最新美国发明专利第2013-11-26期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08594447B2	Method of estimating blur kernel from edge profiles in a blurry image A method of deblurring a two-dimensional, blurred image. An edge within the blurred image is detected, and an edge profile of the blurred image is extracted. A length of the edge profile is determined, and a blur kernel size is estimated based thereon. A quantile function is applied to the edge profile, thereby generating quantile function output. A linearity test is performed on the quantile function output, thereby obtaining a preliminary linearity metric. Another quantile function is selected and the applying a quantile function to the edge profile, thereby generating quantile function output, and the performing a linearity test on the quantile function output, thereby obtaining a preliminary linearity metric, is iteratively repeated until a best linearity metric, a best quantile function, and a best quantile function output are determined. A slope of the best quantile function output is determined, and a blurring parameter is determined based thereon. A blur kernel is estimated based on the blurring parameter and the blur kernel size. A sharp image is resolved using the blur kernel.
US08594446B2	Method for enhancing a digitized document A method for enhancing a digitized image of a document containing text or graphics. The digitized image is decomposed into a low-frequency pedestal image and a high-frequency residual image. A first gain factor image is determined by applying a first tonescale function to the residual image, and a second gain factor image is determined by applying a second tonescale function to the residual image pixel values, wherein parameters defining the tonescale functions are determined by analyzing the pedestal and residual images. An enhanced document image is formed by combining a scaled pedestal image determined by multiplying the pedestal image by the first gain factor image, and a scaled residual image determined by multiplying the residual image by the second gain factor image.
US08594445B2	Fast bilateral filtering using rectangular regions One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for applying a bilateral filter to an image. During operation, the system selects a first region within the image which is associated with a first pixel. Next, the system constructs a first histogram using pixel values within the first region. The system then computes a new value for the first pixel using the current value of the first pixel and the first histogram. The system then selects a second region within the image which is associated with a second pixel. Next, the system determines a non-overlapping region between the first region and the second region. The system then constructs a second histogram using the first histogram and pixel values in the non-overlapping region. Next, the system computes a new value for the second pixel using the current value of the second pixel and the second histogram.
US08594432B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing method An image processing apparatus includes a comparison unit that selects a pixel of interest in a processing image, and compare magnitudes of luminance value of the pixel of interest and luminance value of each of a plurality of neighboring pixels having a predetermined positional relationship with the pixel of interest; a calculation unit that calculates a feature amount of the pixel of interest based on the predetermined positional relationship between the pixel of interest and each of the plurality of neighboring pixels and a comparison result obtained by the comparison unit. For two neighboring pixels at positions which are point symmetrical with respect to the pixel of interest, the comparison unit sets that only one of the two neighboring pixels has the predetermined positional relationship.
US08594427B2	Method and apparatus for reducing memory capacity in encoding image data A filter unit performs an analysis filtering operation by segmenting a frequency component to generate a plurality of subbands composed of coefficient data segmented on a per frequency band basis. A coefficient storage unit stores the coefficient data on a subband by subband basis, with each subband corresponding to a respective area of the coefficient storage unit. The filter unit writes the coefficient data onto the coefficient storage unit via a write buffer in response to a determination that the analysis filtering operation has not reached a final segmentation level. An entropy encoding unit entropy encodes the coefficient data. The filter unit writes the coefficient data on an area of the coefficient storage unit corresponding to the subband to which the coefficient data belongs. The entropy encoding unit reads the coefficient data, stored on different areas on a subband by subband basis, from the coefficient storage unit.
US08594426B2	Color matching using color segmentation Some embodiments provide a computer program for matching colors of a first image to colors of a second image. The computer program identifies a set of transforms for converting the first image to a device-independent color space. The computer program modifies the set of transforms to segment colors of the first image into a set of segmented colors. The computer program applies the modified set of transforms to pixel values of the first image in order to segment the pixels of the first image into the set of segmented colors. The computer program applies the modified set of transforms to pixel values of the second image in order to segment the pixels of the second image into the set of segmented colors. The computer program matches each segmented color in the set of segmented colors in the first image to the segmented color in the second image.
US08594424B2	Apparatus and method for recognizing characters using a camera An apparatus and method for recognizing characters of an image captured using a camera in a mobile terminal are provided, wherein an image of a signboard is captured, a text area is extracted from the captured image of the signboard, characters are recognized from the extracted text area, similar characters up to a predetermined priority level are generated for each recognized character of the extracted text area, location information of an area within a predetermined range from a current position of a user is acquired, store names are extracted from the location information, text is generated by combining the similar characters according to weights, the text are compared with the extracted store names, and a comparison result is output.
US08594423B1	Automatic background identification in video images A computer-implemented image processing method includes: receiving, using at least one processing circuit, a plurality of image frames of a video; constructing, using at least one processing circuit, a plurality of statistical models of the plurality of image frames at a plurality of pixel granularity levels; constructing, using at least one processing circuit, a plurality of probabilistic models of an input image frame at a plurality of channel granularity levels based on the plurality of statistical models; merging at least some of the plurality of probabilistic models based on a weighted average to form a single probability image; and determining background pixels, based on a probability threshold value, from the single probability image.
US08594416B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program A plurality of first multivalued images of non-defective items picked up by an image pickup device are obtained, and a plurality of characteristic amounts at least including a pixel value of a color component and edge intensities in two different directions are extracted for each pixel in the obtained first multivalued images. Selection of any one of the plurality of extracted characteristic amounts is received, and the characteristic amount of which selection is received is extracted, whereby a distribution range for determining the non-defective item is calculated. A second multivalued image of a determination target object is obtained, and the characteristic amount of which selection is received is extracted for each pixel in the obtained second multivalued image, whereby determination is made as to whether the characteristic amount is included in the distribution range corresponding to the extracted characteristic amount.
US08594411B2	Pathologic tissue image analyzing apparatus, pathologic tissue image analyzing method, and pathologic tissue image analyzing program This invention is directed to improvement of the accuracy of cancer differentiation in the pathologic diagnosis using a pathologic tissue image analysis. There are included a stroma area/duct area detecting module for detecting, from a biological tissue image, a duct area on the basis of duct characteristic information indicating the characteristic of ducts included in a tissue area in the biological tissue image; an intraduct cell-nucleus detecting module for extracting, based on a predetermined pigment reference, cell nucleuses included in the detected duct area; and a duct formation evaluating module for calculating a heterotypic degree of each duct on the basis of the distribution state of the cell nucleuses for a predetermined base areas in each duct.
US08594410B2	Context driven image mining to generate image-based biomarkers An image-based biomarker is generated using image features obtained through object-oriented image analysis of medical images. The values of a first subset of image features are measured and weighted. The weighted values of the image features are summed to calculate the magnitude of a first image-based biomarker. The magnitude of the biomarker for each patient is correlated with a clinical endpoint, such as a survival time, that was observed for the patient whose medical images were analyzed. The correlation is displayed on a graphical user interface as a scatter plot. A second subset of image features is selected that belong to a second image-based biomarker such that the magnitudes of the second image-based biomarker for the patients better correlate with the clinical endpoints observed for those patients. The second biomarker can then be used to predict the clinical endpoint of other patients whose clinical endpoints have not yet been observed.
US08594409B2	Automation method for computerized tomography image analysis using automated calculation of evaluation index of degree of thoracic deformation based on automatic initialization, and record medium and apparatus An automation method for CT image analysis for quantitatively analyzing the degree of thoracic deformation, and a record medium and apparatus are disclosed.
US08594408B2	Systems and methods for analyzing dynamic dental occlusions and making dental appliances Systems and methods for analyzing dynamic occlusion during replicated excursions of virtual three-dimensional representations of a dental patient's occlusal complex are provided. The method may include scanning a patient's jaws and teeth configuration using a medical imaging system such as CBCT, laser scanners, or traditional dental impressions; creating a virtual three-dimensional representation of the patient's occlusal complex; replicating excursions of the virtual three-dimensional representation of the patient's occlusal complex based at least on virtual inter-condylar angles and distances; determining acceptable occlusal contacts and/or malocclusions within the virtual three-dimensional representation of the patient's occlusal complex based at least in part on virtual dynamic occlusion during the replicated excursions, and determining at least one virtual dental appliance and/or orthodontic repositioning of one or more teeth based at least in part on the one or more acceptable occlusal contacts and/or malocclusions within the virtual three-dimensional representation of the patient's occlusal complex.
US08594406B2	Single scan multi-procedure imaging A method includes receiving imaging data generated by an imaging system (100) for a scan performed utilizing an imaging protocol with parameters that are based on a plurality of different imaging procedures; processing the imaging data using at least one algorithm corresponding to at least one of the plurality of different imaging procedures; and presenting the processed imaging data.
US08594403B2	Data management system for use in angiographic X-ray imaging A data management system automatically manages image buffers to produce images for angiography using a first memory portion, a second memory portion and an image data processor. The first memory portion stores first image frame data representing minimum luminance values of individual pixels of a sequence of medical images. The second memory portion stores second image frame data comprising a difference between the minimum luminance values and corresponding maximum luminance values. The image data processor processes data representing an acquired X-ray image frame of a catheterized vessel using a stored frame of maximum or minimum pixel luminance values and the second image frame data to provide an image with enhanced visualization of a catheter in a vessel.
US08594396B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program product An image processing apparatus for performing an image processing on a body cavity image captured in a living body includes: a storage unit which stores information including image information of the body cavity image; a change amount calculator which reads out the image information of the body cavity image from the storage unit and calculates, in the read body cavity image, a pixel value change amount of a pixel of interest with a plurality of surrounding pixels located around the pixel of interest; and a candidate lesion region detector which detects a candidate lesion region in the body cavity image based on calculation result of the change amount calculator.
US08594393B2	System for and method of image reconstruction with dual line scanner using line counts A fingerprint scanning and image reconstruction system and method including a fingerprint scanner providing a first scan line and a second scan line separated by a line separation distance in a scanning direction. The system includes an image reconstruction module accumulating scan lines including at least the first scan line and the second scan line over a time period t. The image reconstruction module a value for decimation (t) necessary to produce a selected y axis resolution in the scanning direction based at least in part on (line count(t)/line separation distance)* a selected y resolution, where line count(t) is the number of lines accumulated in time t, and decimation(t) indicates of whether the line count(t) is greater than or less than the number of lines accumulated as a function of the time period t that will result in a selected reconstructed image y resolution in the scanning direction.
US08594390B2	Composition determination device, composition determination method, and program A composition determination device includes: a subject detection unit configured to detect a subject in an image based on acquired image data; an actual subject size detection unit configured to detect the actual size which can be viewed as being equivalent to actual measurements, for each subject detected by the subject detection unit; a subject distinguishing unit configured to distinguish relevant subjects from subjects detected by the subject detection unit, based on determination regarding whether or not the actual size detected by the actual subject size detection unit is an appropriate value corresponding to a relevant subject; and a composition determination unit configured to determine a composition with only relevant subjects, distinguished by the subject distinguishing unit, as objects.
US08594388B2	Large depth-of-field imaging system and iris recogniton system (A2) An extended depth of field (DOF) imaging system (10) is disclosed that has a corresponding extended depth of focus (DOF′) by virtue of its optical system (20) having a select amount of spherical aberration. The imaging system has an image processing unit (54) adapted to process the raw images and perform contrast enhancement to form processed images. The image processing includes restoring the defocused modulation transfer functions (MTFs) using a gain function (G) and the amount of defocus. The imaging system can include an illumination system (60) that illuminates the object being imaged to establish a distance (DH) between the optical system and the object, where distance DH is used in the restoring of the MTF. An iris-recognition (I-R) system based on the enhanced DOF imaging system is also disclosed.; Optical system embodiments for use in the DOF imaging system that can provide select amounts of spherical aberration—and thus select increases in DOF—without increasing the adverse impact of other aberrations on image formation are also disclosed.
US08594382B2	Method and system of determining the fiber diameter distribution of a fibrous media A method and system of determining fiber diameter distribution of a fibrous media is disclosed. The method includes providing at least one digital image representative of the fibrous media, pre-processing the images, binarizing the images, generating virtual lines on the image, solving for fiber fringe points on each of generated line, solving for fiber center points as a mean of the fringe points, generating and growing measurement circles about the fiber center points, repositioning circles and center points to avoid fiber intersections, resizing the repositioned measurement circles to intersect the opposing fringes, and calculating fiber diameters and fiber spacing.
US08594381B2	Method of identifying motion sickness A method of identifying a motion-sickness problem in a motion-image sequence includes using a processor to analyze the image-sequence information to identify a propensity that the image sequence can induce motion sickness in a user and forming a saliency map calculated from salient static and dynamic visual features in the image-sequence information. The method further includes identifying moving and static objects and parameters in the saliency map describing the characteristics of the moving and static objects and distribution of salient features that can induce motion sickness in the identified image-sequence information, determining the propensity of the identified moving and static objects and parameters in the saliency map that can induce motion sickness, and producing a signal based upon the determined propensity to identify a motion-sickness problem in the image sequence.
US08594380B2	Lane marking detection apparatus, lane marking detection method, and lane marking detection program A lane marking detection apparatus, a lane marking detection method, and a lane marking detection program is provided, which can detect a lane marking precisely even when noise is present. The lane marking detection apparatus is provided with an original image acquiring means which acquires an original image obtained by imaging a road from a traveling object traveling along the road, a lane marking position detection means which detects the relative position of a lane marking included in the road, from the traveling object, based on the original image, and a examination means which examine the result of the detection obtained by the lane marking position detection means, based on a partial image of a first image that is an original image at time t0 and the partial image of a past image that is the original image captured before time t0.
US08594377B2	Image recognition apparatus An image recognition part of an image recognition apparatus recognizes an object based on a target area in an outside-vehicle image obtained by a camera installed in a vehicle. A position identifying part identifies an optical axis position of the camera relative to the vehicle based on the outside-vehicle image, and an area changing part changes a position of the target area in the outside-vehicle image according to the optical axis position of the camera. Therefore, it is possible to recognize an object properly based on the target area in the outside-vehicle image even though the optical axis position of the camera is displaced.
US08594376B2	Computer-readable storage medium having information processing program stored therein, information processing method, information processing apparatus, and information processing system A computer-readable storage medium has stored therein an information processing program for causing a computer of an information processing apparatus to operate as: means for sequentially obtaining an image; specific object detection means for detecting a specific object from the obtained image; means for detecting, on the basis of a pixel value obtained from a central region of the detected specific object, first region information on the central region; means for determining whether or not a result of the detection meets a predetermined condition; means for detecting, on the basis of a pixel value obtained from a surrounding region of the specific object that is present around the central region, second region information on the surrounding region; and means for outputting at least the second region information detected by the second region information detection means when a result of the determination is positive.
US08594375B1	Advanced cloud cover assessment Cloud cover assessment system and method provides for automatically determining whether a target digital image acquired from remote sensing platforms is substantially cloud-free. The target image is acquired and compared to a corresponding known cloud-free image from a cloud-free database, using an optimized feature matching process. A feature matching statistic is computed between pixels in the target image and pixels in the cloud-free image and each value is converted to a feature matching probability. Features in the target image that match features in the cloud-free image exhibit a high value of feature matching probability, and are considered unlikely to be obscured by clouds, and may be designated for inclusion in the cloud-free database.
US08594368B1	Sense/control devices, configuration tools and methods for such devices, and systems including such devices A configuration tool including a memory to store instructions, communication circuitry, and a processor coupled to the memory and the communication circuitry. The processor is configured to execute instructions to communicate with a device attached to monitor or control a piece of equipment using the communication circuitry. The processor receives data about a state of the piece of equipment from the device, and transmits configuration data to the device. The configuration data is configured to control how additional data about the state of the piece of equipment is to be acquired.
US08594362B2	Speaker A speaker includes a base having a groove, a tube received in the groove, a magnet disposed in the tube, a first ring-shaped body and a washer mounted, from top to bottom, on an outer side of the tube sequentially, and a second ring-shaped body connected to an edge of the first ring-shaped body and installed around a wall surface of a rim of the groove. The second ring-shaped body has an inner ring-shaped plate, an outer ring-shaped plate, and a connection segment connected between the inner ring-shaped plate and the outer ring-shaped plate. Therefore, a low-frequency effect thus generated is greatly improved.
US08594361B2	Speaker mounting member for display apparatus A speaker mounting member for a display apparatus including: one or plurality of mounting plates configured to be laid on a back surface of a display apparatus; a linking member configured to be crosswise linked to the mounting plate at a predetermined position in a first direction along a longitudinal direction of the mounting plate; a movable member configured to be linked to the linking member movably along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a speaker mounting panel configured to be attached to the movable member and to be able to mount a speaker.
US08594360B2	Mounting structure for speaker and flat panel display A mounting structure for a speaker with respect to a panel (1) is provided. The mounting structure includes a speaker (20), a pair of projecting latches (10, 11) flanking a predetermined mounting region of the panel (1), and a frame member (30) which is held in fixed engagement with the latches (10, 11) so as to press the speaker (20) onto the mounting region.
US08594350B2	Set-up method for array-type sound system An example set-up method for a loudspeaker system capable of generating at least one directed beam of audio sound includes emitting directional beams of set-up sound signals from the loudspeaker system into a room, registering at least one reflection of the emitted signals at one or more locations within the room, and evaluating the registered reflected signals to obtain data for use in configuring the surround sound system.
US08594347B2	Microphone having multiple transducer elements A microphone is provided. The microphone has a housing; an acoustic port located in the housing; a substrate coupled with the housing; an integrated circuit positioned onto the substrate; and two or more MEMS transducers mounted on the substrate wherein the transducers are connected in parallel.
US08594344B2	Method and apparatus for layered audio A system and method for providing layered audio which allows a user to selectively and simultaneously listen to multiple audio sources for limited time periods and switch between these layered audio sources. The system allows a user to discernibly listen to two content sources at the same time.
US08594341B2	System and method for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels A system and method for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels are provided. The system and method of the present disclosure will enable a user to listen to desired audio content, e.g., music with a total lack of distraction while selectively allowing certain important and selected sounds to interrupt the audio content. The system for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels includes an audio content device (ACD) for supplying audio content on a first channel; at least one microphone input device for generating an acoustic signal from sound external to the system on a second channel; an audio signal processing control unit (ASPCU) for receiving the audio content on the first channel and the acoustic signal on the second channel and for selectively switching between the first and second channel; and an audio output device (AOD) for audibly producing sounds from the selected channel.
US08594336B2	Sound image localization apparatus A sound image localization apparatus comprises an L direct output section that produces an output signal by inputting an audio signal of a rear left audio input channel to a filter having a characteristic obtained by dividing RLD by LD, an L cross output section that produces an output signal by inputting the audio signal of the rear left audio input channel to a filter having a characteristic obtained by dividing RLC by LC, an R cross output section that produces an output signal by inputting an audio signal of a rear right audio input channel to a filter having a characteristic obtained by dividing RRC by RC, an R direct output section that produces an output signal by inputting the audio signal of the rear right audio input channel to a filter having a characteristic obtained by dividing RRD by RD, a first adding section that adds a difference signal between the output signal of the L direct output section and the output signal of the R cross output section to an audio signal of a front left audio input channel, and a second adding section that adds a difference signal between the output signal of the R direct output section and the output signal of the L cross output section to an audio signal of a front right audio input channel.
US08594334B2	Key management method The present invention relates to a key management method to establish selective secret information in multiple disjoint groups, more specifically to a method of reducing the broadcast size in access hierarchies and localize and facilitate management in said access hierarchies. The key management method selects a number of subgroups. Each subgroup supports an instance of a key distribution method for receiving distributed key material, and is capable of computing a usage security key based on the distributed key material and predefined user group key material.
US08594330B2	Personalized whitebox descramblers The invention prevents intercepted keys from being used in unauthorized whitebox descrambler modules for the decryption of a ciphertext. Hereto a receiver with a personalized whitebox descrambler is proposed, whereby a part of the descrambling operation of the personalized descrambler is performed in a preprocessing module external to the descrambler.
US08594327B2	Device, program, and method for transmitting or receiving an image through electronic mail A scanned image transmitting device has an instruction-creating section that creates an instruction describing a process instruction in relation to a scanned image; an electronic mail creating section that creates an electronic mail including the scanned image and the instruction; an encrypting section that encrypts at least a portion of the electronic mail using a public key of a transmission destination; and a transmitting section that transmits the encrypted electronic mail to the transmission destination.
US08594323B2	Method and apparatus for generating large numbers of encryption keys Entropy obtained from a series of key generation exchanges may be combined with entropy from a strong entropy source to allow the strong entropy to be stretched to generate a larger number of keys for use on a communication network, without requiring additional information from the group members and without requiring the entropy source to be increased in size or in number. In one embodiment, nonces exchanged during an initial key exchange are used to generate additional key material that is then fed, together with a fresh random secret, to another pseudo-random function to generate an additional key stream. The fresh ransom secret may be generated at the GCKS from a physical entropy source or other entropy source, and may be changed at will by the GCKS to further increase the strength of the keys. The methods are particularly useful for group key management where a large number of keys are required to be generated in a short time frame.
US08594322B2	Encoding/decoding apparatus An encoding/decoding apparatus comprises a central processing unit and an encryption/decryption accelerator coupled to the central processing unit. The accelerator comprises an input for input data to be encrypted/decrypted, an arithmetic logic unit coupled to said input for performing selectable operations on data obtained from said input data and an output for encrypted/decrypted data coupled to said arithmetic logic unit.
US08594320B2	Hybrid echo and noise suppression method and device in a multi-channel audio signal Acoustic echo control and noise suppression in telecommunication systems. The proposed method of processing multi-channels audio loudspeakers signals and at least one microphone signal, comprises the steps of: transforming the input microphone signals (y1 (n), y2 (n), . . . , yM (n)) into input microphone short-time spectra, computing a combined loudspeaker signal short-time spectrum [X(i,k)] from the loudspeaker signals, (x1 (n), x2 (n), . . . , xL (n)), computing a combined microphone signal short-time spectrum [Y(i,k)] from the input microphone signal, (y1 (n), y2 (n), . . . , yM (n)), estimating a magnitude or power spectrum of the echo in the combined microphone signal short-time spectrum, computing a gain filter (G(i,k)) for magnitude modification of the input microphone short-time spectra, applying the gain filter to at least one of the input microphone spectra, converting the filtered input microphone spectra into the time domain (e1 (n), e2 (n), . . . , eM (n)).
US08594316B2	Voice call system adapted to support a computer terminal and that adjusts a ringer tone A ringer tone signal is attenuated, during a state in which a call is in progress, below the ringer tone signal level that occurs when no call is in progress, when a PC terminal is utilized as a telephone. A voice call system includes a handset unit for making a call, and a hook switch detection unit for detecting an on-hook/off-hook state of the handset unit. The PC terminal includes a sound source interface unit connected to a sound source, a fixed storage device for storing setting data indicative of a sound source for making a voice call, and a communication control unit responsive to a ringer tone generating operation command issued by the voice exchanger for determining whether or not a call is in progress from an on-hook/off-hook state detected by the hook switch detection unit.
US08594314B2	Extended signaling system and method Embodiments are described that include a “front end” device located remotely from a local telephone location. The front end filters DC and AC current on a telephone line to separate these signals and passes a DC current through a low resistance Low Pass Filter without traditional resistance or current limiting means. The front end also provides signaling capability isolated from the DC and audio channels by a High Pass Filter. Some embodiments also include a “back end” unit located near a local telephone location. The “back end” unit filters the DC and AC currents into at least two DC current streams. One of the DC current streams provides sufficient current to power a local telephone. The other stream(s) provides current sufficient to power an auxiliary device. The “back end” device may also provide signaling isolated from the DC and audio channels that is complementary to the “front end” signaling.
US08594313B2	Systems and methods for endpoint recording using phones Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for recording media communication. An exemplary method comprises the steps of: receiving an incoming call from a calling phone; routing the incoming call to a called phone in a contact center; transmitting voice communications associated with the incoming call via the calling phone; duplicating the voice communications via the called phone; transmitting the duplicated voice communications via the called phone; and recording the duplicated voice communications.
US08594307B1	Method of reverse call branch off-load A computer-implemented method for routing a call to a call center may generally comprise receiving a call from a caller at an automated call distributor, initiating an interactive voice response interrogation session with the caller, and classifying the call as one of a first type and a second type based on the interactive voice response interrogation session, when the call type is classified as the first type, routing the call to at least one of a plurality of branches comprising at least one agent designated to receive calls classified as the first type, when the call type is classified as the second type, routing the call to a call center comprising at least one agent designated to receive calls classified as the first type and the second type.
US08594306B2	Providing information by a contact center A method for a contact center to provide information to one or more users in response to one or more inquiries from the one or more users is presented. For example, the method includes accessing, using at least one client adaptor, at least one agent group that includes at least one agent having knowledge regarding the one or more inquiries. The method further includes the at least one agent responding to the one or more inquiries using the at least one client adaptor. The at least one agent group has pre-existing communications infrastructure that is accessed by a computing platform of the contact center using the at least one client adaptor.
US08594303B1	Unpaid break time for contact center agents An agent's request for a break is indicated by a pause request and pause code, where the pause code indicates the reason for the break. In one embodiment, a pause request is analyzed to determine if the agent is allowed to request a break associated with the pause code. The pause code may be further analyzed to determine if it is of an unpaid type, in which case the agent is requesting an unpaid break. If the break is of a paid type, then a threshold timer may be started at the beginning of the break that when expires indicates that any remainder of the break is processed as unpaid time. This can be accomplished by noting an event associated with the threshold timer in an agent work history log or by automatically logging off the agent at the expiry of the timer.
US08594291B2	Techniques for planning a conference using location data Techniques for scheduling a conference among multiple persons include receiving quorum data and location data. Quorum data indicates a quorum for a particular conference. Location data indicates locations of a plurality of persons who satisfy the quorum. A proposed location for the particular conference is determined based on the location data and the quorum data. These techniques allow location data to include presence data that describes a current location of a person or a state of communication of that person; and therefore allow presence data to be used in determining where to conduct a conference and when. For example, an organizer of a meeting and meeting invitees are notified when the people constituting a quorum cross paths at the same location, or are situated at sites that support remote conferencing.
US08594284B2	Systems and methods for providing context-based voicemail Voicemail systems and methods for managing voicemail systems are provided herein. The subject voicemail systems provide a plurality voicemail greeting, each of which are associated with a context tag. The context tag can be, for example, a location, a device parameter, an account parameter, a network parameter, or any other contextual information. Upon receipt of a change in a context tag, the voicemail system determines a new voicemail greeting associated with the new context tag and sets the new voicemail greeting to the active voicemail greeting.
US08594281B2	Dynamic menu framework Systems, methods, and computer readable media for providing a customer service system are provided. In some examples, the customer service system may include a telephone interface and may recognize both speech responses (e.g., voice commands) and/or touch tone responses. The system may include one or more rules for identifying options based on received user input. In some examples, the options provided based on touch tone input may be different from those based on received speech input. In some examples, the speech responses may be determined to meet a confidence threshold in order to progress to the next menu level or set of options. The confidence threshold may be adjusted and/or may be different or customizable for different menu options, levels, and the like.
US08594277B2	Grazing incidence collector optical systems for EUV and X-ray applications A collector optical system for EUV and X-ray applications is disclosed, wherein the system includes a plurality of mirrors arranged in a nested configuration that is symmetric about an optical axis. The mirrors have first and second reflective surfaces that provide successive grazing incidence reflections of radiation from a radiation source. The first and second reflective surfaces have a corrective shape that compensates for high spatial frequency variations in the far field intensity distribution of the radiation.
US08594274B2	Method to show a concentration of a contrast agent in a predetermined volume segment by means of tomosynthesis, and corresponding tomosynthesis apparatus In an imaging method and a tomosynthesis apparatus, a two-dimensional low-energy image of the predetermined volume segment is obtained after administration of a contrast agent, followed by a two-dimensional high-energy image and then a high-energy tomosynthesis of the predetermined volume segment is obtained with a high total radiation dose that is significantly higher than the low radiation dose. The two-dimensional low-energy image is subtracted from the two-dimensional high-energy image to generate a result with which the concentration of the contrast agent is visible. Additionally, in a time interval in which an enrichment or a washing-out of the contrast agent occurs within the predetermined volume segment, a tomosynthesis of the predetermined volume segment is automatically implemented to show the concentration of the contrast agent in the predetermined volume segment.
US08594272B2	Inverse geometry volume computed tomography systems The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for inverse geometry volume computed tomography medical imaging of a human patient. A plurality of stationary x-ray sources for producing x-ray radiation are used. A rotating collimator located between the plurality of x-ray sources and the human patient is also used. A rotating detector can also be used.
US08594271B2	X-ray diagnosis apparatus and image processing apparatus A marker-coordinate detecting unit detects coordinates of a stent marker on a new image when the new image is stored in an image-data storage unit; and then a correction-image creating unit creates a correction image from the new image through, for example, image transformation processing, so as to match up the detected coordinates with reference coordinates that are coordinates of the stent marker already detected by the marker-coordinate detecting unit in a first frame. An image post-processing unit then creates an image for display by performing post-processing on the correction image created by the correction-image creating unit, the post-processing including high-frequency noise reduction filtering-processing, low-frequency component removal filtering-processing, and logarithmic-image creating processing; and then a system control unit performs control of displaying a moving image of an enlarged image of a set region that is set in the image for display, together with an original image.
US08594268B2	Two-fluid molten-salt reactor A reactor vessel includes a plenum and a reactor core with first and second sets of channels. A blanket salt flows through the first set of channels, and a fuel salt flows through the second set of channels. The plenum receives the blanket salt from the first set of channels. The blanket salt provides a breed-stock for a fission reaction in the fuel salt and transfers heat generated by the fission reaction without mixing with the fuel salt.
US08594265B2	Methods for controlling ion beam and target voltage in a neutron generator for improved performance A method for operating a pulsed neutron generator includes adjusting a target current of the neutron generator to a preselected value. A parameter related to a neutron output of the neutron generator is measured. A target voltage of the neutron generator is adjusted to maintain the measured parameter within a predetermined range.
US08594258B2	Adaptive noise filtering and equalization Processing a signal comprising signal distortions with filters. The filters comprise a first filter configured to a first time scale to compensate for signal distortions within respective symbols of the signal and a second filter configured to a second time scale to compensate for signal distortions among symbols of the signal. A probability estimate is produced based on an output of at least one of the first and second filters. At least one of the first and second time scales is adjusted according to the probability estimate.
US08594253B2	Jitter compensation Circuits and methods for jitter compensation in a receiver system are useful to improve performance. One such circuit includes a combiner block for combining a reference signal with an input signal (Sin) of the circuit, and a converter stage for converting the input signal (Sin) together with the reference signal. The converter stage is clocked by a clock signal modulated by a jitter signal. A forward path having a first mixer unit is provided for multiplying a copy of an output signal (A) of the converter stage with the frequency of the reference signal in order to generate a jitter compensating signal (B). A compensation unit for compensating jitter in the output signal (A) of the converter stage in a direct output path with the jitter compensating signal (B) is also provided.
US08594248B2	Reverse indexing methods and systems Methods and systems for reversing indexing signal option selections are disclosed. The signal options can be any of a variety of options that permit the establishment of a communication link, including modulation format, coding rate, precoding index and assigned subbands. The selected options can be represented as a vector and the index can be determined by employing a worth function for a particular selected vector element that is dependent on a selection occurrence count of the element and on an element position count of the element. In particular, the index can be the summation of worth function values for each selected element.
US08594246B1	Multi-Viterbi receive channel decoder A circuit includes a first Viterbi detector configured to generate a first estimate signal based on an equalized signal. The first estimate signal includes preliminary non-return-to-zero data estimates. A first filter is configured to generate a first filtered signal based on a preliminary decision signal. The preliminary decision signal is generated based on the first estimate signal. A second Viterbi detector is in communication with the first Viterbi detector. The second Viterbi detector is configured to generate a final decision signal based on a sum of (i) a delayed version of the equalized signal, and (ii) the first filtered signal, wherein the final decision signal comprises final non-return-to-zero estimates.
US08594245B2	Digital broadcasting receiving system and method A digital broadcasting receiving system and method, where the digital broadcasting receiving system includes: a demodulator receiving and demodulating a dual transmission stream including a turbo stream and a normal stream; an equalizer equalizing the demodulated dual transmission stream; a first processor restoring normal stream data from the equalized dual transmission stream; and a second processor restoring turbo stream data from the equalized dual transmission stream and eraser decoding the turbo stream data. Thus, the reception sensitivity of a transmission stream including a turbo stream can be improved.
US08594238B2	Apparatus and method for estimating channel in channel domain A method and apparatus for estimating a channel in a frequency domain are provided. The apparatus acquires frequency selectivity information using a cell-specific reference signal, selects a channel estimation scheme using a user specific reference signal according to the acquired frequency selectivity information, and estimates a frequency channel using the selected channel estimation scheme. Accordingly, more accurate channel estimation with respect to a region to which a physical downstream shared channel is allocated can be performed.
US08594236B2	Radio communication system, base station, mobile station, and radio communication method A radio communication system includes a reception apparatus and a transmission apparatus. The reception apparatus includes a first wireless communication interface and a first processor. The transmission apparatus includes a second wireless communication interface configured to transmit a wireless signal to the reception apparatus and a second processor configured for generating a plurality of data blocks and a grouped data block obtained by grouping the plurality of data blocks and controlling the second wireless communication interface to transmit the plurality of data blocks through a first radio transmission path, and to transmit the grouped data block through a second radio transmission path better in radio transmission quality than the first radio transmission path. The first processor is configured for controlling the first wireless communication interface to receive the plurality of data blocks transmitted through the first radio transmission path, the grouped data block transmitted through the second radio transmission path.
US08594235B2	Apparatus and method for transmitting data using transmission diversity in wireless communication system An apparatus for transmitting data in a wireless communication system is provided. The apparatus includes a data processor for generating modulation symbols by coding information bits and by constellation-mapping the coded information bits, a transmission (TX) processor for generating transmission symbols by applying any one of first and second transmission diversity schemes to the modulation symbols and for configuring a subframe including the transmission symbols, and a plurality of antennas for transmitting the subframe. The subframe comprises a plurality of slots and has a varying frequency band every slot by frequency hopping.
US08594232B2	System for predistortion and post-distortion correction of both a receiver and transmitter during calibration A post-distorter compensates for receiver nonlinearity in calibration mode. Linearized receiver-side output from the post-distorter is used to correctly compensate for transmitter-side nonlinearities in calibration mode. The post-distorter also compensates for receiver-side nonlinearities during normal receive mode. Thus, the post-distorter features dual modes of use, a calibration mode, wherein calibration signals received from the adjacent transmitter are linearized by the post-distorter and a normal receive mode, wherein communication signals from a remote transmitter are linearized by the post-distorter.
US08594231B2	Power series digital predistorter and distortion compensation control method therefor A power series digital predistorter and a distortion compensation control method for the power series digital predistorter are capable of adjusting the coefficients of a frequency characteristic compensator at high speed. A controller in the power series digital predistorter collectively sets adjustment amounts for the phases in bands in an N-th order frequency characteristic compensator; collectively sets adjustment amounts for the amplitudes in the bands in the N-th order frequency characteristic compensator; determines whether an index indicating the degree of cancellation of a distortion component generated in a power amplifier satisfies a preset condition; and, if the index does not satisfy the condition, performs control such that the adjustment amounts for the phases and the adjustment amounts for the amplitudes are set again.
US08594230B2	System and method for constructing unique word sets for efficient detection using orthogonal functions A system and method of construction of unique word sets together with an efficient method of implementing correlation with the members of the set is presented. The set of UWs is constructed by breaking a UW sequence in to equal length segments, and then multiplying this vector by an orthogonal matrix. First an arbitrary vector U is chosen of length K for a set of N UWs. Then a matrix H of size N×N is chosen. The columns of H are then repeated L times to form a matrix H′. The set of N UW consists of the rows of H′UT. N sub-correlations of the N segments of the vector U with the segments of the (suitably delayed) received signal is performed at the receiver. Then the N different outputs are obtained as Z=HCT, where C=[C0 . . . CN-1] is the vector of correlated outputs. The receiver only requires N correlators, each of length L, instead of length K, which provides a less complex and more efficient solution for detection of UW sets.
US08594228B2	Apparatus and method of differential IQ frequency up-conversion A balanced transmitter up-converts I and Q baseband signals directly from baseband-to-RF. The up-conversion process is sufficiently linear that no IF processing is required, even in communications applications that have stringent requirements on spectral growth. In operation, the balanced modulator sub-harmonically samples the I and Q baseband signals in a balanced and differential manner, resulting in harmonically rich signal. The harmonically rich signal contains multiple harmonic images that repeat at multiples of the sampling frequency, where each harmonic contains necessary information to reconstruct the I and Q baseband signals. The differential sampling is performed according to control signals that are phase shifted with respect to each other. The control signals may have pulse widths (or apertures) that operate to improve energy transfer to a desired harmonic in the harmonically rich signal. A bandpass filter can then be utilized to select the desired harmonic of interest from the harmonically rich signal.
US08594226B2	Method for processing a digital signal in a digital delta-sigma modulator, and digital delta-sigma modulator therefor The digital delta-sigma modulator includes a signal input for receiving digital samples of N bits, and a digital filter connected to the signal input. The digital filter performs addition/subtraction and integration operations according to a redundant arithmetic coding for delivering digital filtered samples. A quantizer performs a nonexact quantization operation so as to deliver digital output samples of n bits, with n being less than N. The input of the quantizer is connected within the digital filter.
US08594220B2	Code books for multiple-input and multiple-output communication systems A method and device for transmitting and receiving data. A device comprises a code book and a transmitter. The code book comprises a plurality of codewords, wherein the plurality of codewords correspond to a plurality of vectors having a largest minimum chordal distance with respect to the plurality of vectors. The transmitter is configured to send a number of wireless signals using the code book. A receiver receives and decodes the number of wireless signals.
US08594218B2	Method of transmitting a precoding matrix in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system A method of transmitting a precoding matrix in a multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) system is disclosed. In the system, a receiving end determines feedback information by calculating each diagonal sub-matrix of the precoding matrix. Here, the precoding matrix includes a plurality of sub-matrices arranged in a block diagonal format. Thereafter, the receiving end transmits he feedback information of the each calculated sub-matrix.
US08594216B2	Beamforming feedback options for MU-MIMO Beamforming may be used in MIMO communication systems to further enhance spectral efficiency. Beamforming refers to beamed transmissions to a single destination (e.g., a station) at a time, to enhance the rate and/or range of transmission. To perform beamforming from a source to one or more destinations, a channel and/or beamforming matrices corresponding to the channel needs to be known at the source, which may be obtained as feedback from the destination. However, the beamforming matrices may not be smooth over frequency as it is fed back from the destination. Therefore, certain aspects of the present disclosure provide beamforming feedback options, resulting in the smoothness of a beamforming matrix.
US08594215B2	MIMO system having a plurality of service antennas for data transmission thereof Embodiments provide a MIMO system having a plurality of service antennas and method for data transmission and reception. The system includes a plurality of service antennas, where each service antenna is configured to simultaneously serve a plurality of terminals and independently receive a pilot sequence from the plurality of terminals. The system further includes a plurality of channel estimation units configured to independently generate an antenna-specific channel estimate based on the received pilot sequence and a plurality of pre-coding units configured to independently generate a coded signal to be transmitted to the plurality of terminals via a respective service antenna based on a set of data symbols and the antenna-specific channel estimate.
US08594209B2	Distance estimation A method, comprising: periodically enabling reception of a signal at a receiver, every first time; transforming the received signal in order to determine data in the received signal; comparing the determined data with reference data; and using the difference between the determined data and the reference data to estimate a correction to a multiple of the first time in order to determine a distance between the receiver and an origin of the signal.
US08594207B2	Method and apparatus for providing channel quality feedback in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing communication system In an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing communication system, wherein frequency bandwidth may be represented by multiple Resource Block Group (RBG) levels, wherein each RBG level comprises a division of the frequency bandwidth into a number of RBGs different from the number of RBGs of the other RBG levels, a user equipment measures a channel quality associated with one or more RBGs of one or more RBG levels of the multiple RBG levels, selects an RBG of from among the measured RBGs based on the measured channel qualities, and reports channel quality information associated with the selected RBG to a radio access network, wherein reporting comprises providing an index to the selected RBG and providing channel quality information for the indexed RBG.
US08594206B2	Wireless transmission apparatus, wireless reception apparatus, wireless communication system, and wireless communication method Disclosed herein is a wireless transmission apparatus including: a wireless transmission block having an oscillator for oscillating a signal having a local oscillation frequency, the wireless transmission block being configured to transmit a digital signal on the basis of a signal having a local oscillation frequency oscillated by the oscillator to the reception side.
US08594199B2	Apparatus and method for motion vector filtering based on local image segmentation and lattice maps A method and an apparatus for filtering motion vector fields provided by a motion estimator apparatus are disclosed. The method includes receiving an input image, determining a motion vector field associated with the input image, determining a local segmentation image, forming a lattice map to identify periodic structures, using the local segmentation image and the lattice map to obtain an image segment pixel count and an image/motion segment pixel count, and using the segment pixel count and the image/motion segment pixel count to provide a filtered motion vector field. Some embodiments further include a motion estimation apparatus including an image delay apparatus, a lattice detector to find lattice structures in the input and delayed images, a histogram generator and a histogram analyzer to provide a set of horizontal and vertical search masks, a motion vector estimator to provide a motion vector field, and a motion vector filter as provided herein.
US08594195B2	Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding at least one image frame that is artificially inserted into image sequence Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding at least one image frame artificially inserted by a user among a plurality of image frames of an image sequence by using a parameter regarding characteristics of the image frame.
US08594185B2	Image coding apparatus and image coding method An image coding apparatus includes a coding unit which generates coded data on a block basis, by coding the input image; a switching unit which selects and outputs either the coded data or uncompressed image data corresponding to the coded data; and a judging unit which judges, on a block basis, whether the code amount of the coded data is larger than a predetermined threshold. A control unit changes, to a predetermined specified coding type, the coding type of a first block and the coding type of a second block when the code amount of coded data generated by coding the first block is judged to be larger than the threshold, and the switching unit outputs the uncompressed image data corresponding to the coded data when the coding type of the coded data is the specified coding type.
US08594184B2	Method and apparatus for controlling video-audio data playing The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for controlling video-audio data playing, which relates to the network communication field. The method includes: obtaining total duration of playing video-audio data in a buffer; calculating a time difference, the time difference being a difference between a current time point and a time point of receiving a latest video-audio data packet; and performing time domain stretch processing for video-audio data in the buffer when the total duration and the time difference satisfy a preset condition, and playing the processed video-audio data. The embodiments of the present invention also disclose an apparatus for controlling video-audio data playing. By using the method and apparatus, the incontinuity phenomena will be decreased when the video-audio data is played, so as to improve user experiences.
US08594183B2	Method and apparatus for decoding video according to individual parsing or decoding in data unit level, and method and apparatus for encoding video for individual parsing or decoding in data unit level A video decoding method including: extracting, from a bitstream of an encoded video, at least one of information indicating independent parsing of a data unit and information indicating independent decoding of a data unit; extracting encoded video data and information about a coded depth and an encoding mode according to maximum coding units by parsing the bitstream based on the information indicating independent parsing of the data unit; and decoding at least one coding unit according to a coded depth of each maximum coding unit of the encoded video data, based on the information indicating independent decoding in the data unit and the information about the coded depth and the encoding mode according to maximum coding units.
US08594181B2	Multi-decoder and method A multi-decoder includes a plurality of decoders for different types of coding, an output buffer which stores and outputs the decoded output signal output from the decoders, an output switcher which selectively outputs the decoded output signal of the output buffer, and a controller which determines a coding scheme of the stream based on data of the header area of a stream inputted to each of the decoders, and outputs the stream to the corresponding decoder based on the determination result, and controls the output switcher to switch a decoded output signal of a sender to another decoded output signal, when inputting a stream switching signal.
US08594174B2	Rotating pulse-width modulator A driver for driving an LED uses PWM in a sequence of the periods. The driver has a modulo counter, that is reset after each period. The driver has a first adder for combining the count value with a quantity indicative of a shift of the LED's control pulse relative to the start of the period; a second adder for combining the count value with a width quantity indicative of a width of the control pulse; and a logic gate receiving the MSBs at the outputs of the adders and supplying the control pulse.
US08594172B2	Adaptation of baseline wander correction loop gain settings An apparatus including a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to receive a signal, where low frequency content of the signal is attenuated due to high pass filtering by a medium carrying the signal and a coupling. The second circuit may be configured to automatically set a gain of a baseline wander correction loop to restore the low frequency content in the signal based upon a sample taken from a first point in a signal pathway of the first circuit.
US08594167B2	Determining spectral samples of a finite length sequence at non-uniformly spaced frequencies Techniques disclosed herein are generally related to methods and devices for determining spectral samples for a finite length sequence. Some example methods include, for each time-indexed sample in a data sample sequence comprising a plurality of samples, generating a sample-specific phase value set associated with a respective time index of the sample and a set of predetermined frequencies. Some examples further include, mapping each sample-specific phase value set to a corresponding sample-specific iso-phasor set and calculating an altered iso-phasor set. Some examples include generating a rotated sample value set by unmapping the altered iso-phasor set to obtain real and imaginary components of the sample rotated by the corresponding sample-specific phase value set. Some addition examples include summing selected rotated sample values from each of the sets of rotated sample values to create a spectral sample vector having a spectral sample of the sequence and outputting the spectral sample vector.
US08594166B2	Method and system for the serial transmission of data There is provided a system for the bidirectional synchronous transmission of data between a device (1) to be tested and a testing device (2) with a device (1) to be tested and a testing device (2) which can be connected together by way of an electric transmission line (3) and by way of an electric ground line (4). The two devices (1, 2) are suitable for sending and receiving data synchronously with a predetermined clock frequency and phase as sequences of first and second voltages which respectively represent a first and second value of a bit on the electric transmission line (3). To receive data a receiving device (1, 2) samples a voltage on the electric transmission line (3) at predetermined sampling phases of the clock to identify whether the first or the second voltage is present. To send data a sending device (1, 2) produces sequences of first and second voltages in such a way that the first or the second voltage is present on the electric transmission line (3) at the predetermined sampling phases of the receiving device (1, 2). The clock frequency and phase is predetermined by the device (1) to be tested and the testing device (2) is synchronized to said clock frequency and phase, wherein in an initialization phase the device (1) to be tested transmits a sequence of alternate first and second voltages on the electric transmission line (3) and the testing device (2) derives the clock frequency and phase from said sequence.
US08594162B2	Impulse noise management Evaluation of the impact of impulse noise on a communication system can be utilized to determine how the system should be configured to adapt to impulse noise events. Moreover, the system allows for information regarding impulse noise events, such as length of the event, repetition period of the event and timing of the event, to be collected and forwarded to a destination. The adaptation can be performed during one or more of Showtime and initialization, and can be initiated and determined at either one or more of a transmitter and a receiver.
US08594157B2	Cancellation of pilot and traffic signals A method for removing selected signals from a received signal prior to decoding begins by receiving communication signals from a transmitter over a CDMA air interface. The received communication signals are input to a traffic signal cancellation system for canceling unwanted traffic signals, thereby producing an output (O). The received communication signals are input to a pilot signal cancellation system for removing a global pilot signal, thereby producing an output (Oadd). The output (Oadd) of the pilot signal cancellation system is subtracted from the output (O) of the traffic signal cancellation system to provide a cancellation system output.
US08594153B2	Spread-spectrum receiver with progressive fourier transform A receiving system dynamically searches the communications band for transmissions of messages having the same nominal communications parameters, including the use of the same spreading code, but having potentially different specific frequencies and code-phases. The receiver, which is independent of the transmitters, samples the communications band at each code-phase of the spreading code over a span of downconverted transmission frequencies. When a message element is detected at a particular code-phase and frequency, it is forwarded to a demodulator that demodulates the message and sends it to its intended destination. In a preferred embodiment, a progressive Fourier Transform is used to incrementally determine the power level at each successive code-phase at a given frequency, thereby substantially reducing the time required to search for transmissions at each discrete code-phase.
US08594151B2	Pilot sequence detection A user equipment and corresponding method detect a frequency division permanent common pilot and include a controller configured to use a sliding correlator with a frequency division phase-shift, an averaging unit configured to average a peak magnitude output of the sliding correlator over a predetermined number of sub-frames for each of possible reference pilot sequence and each sample shift of the sliding correlator, and a maximum peak storing unit configured to store first and second maximum peaks depending on corresponding ratios and a threshold. The user equipment and method thereof also include a pilot sequence index candidate storing unit configured to store a pilot sequence index candidate for each shift of the sliding correlator. The user equipment and method thereof include a selector configured to select the pilot sequence index candidate with a lowest peak ratio to shift the sliding correlator.
US08594145B2	Group-III nitride semiconductor laser device, and method for fabricating group-III nitride semiconductor laser device A III-nitride semiconductor laser device includes a laser structure including a support base, a semiconductor region, and an electrode. The support base includes a hexagonal III-nitride semiconductor and a semipolar primary surface. The semiconductor region includes first and second cladding layers and an active layer arranged along an axis normal to the semipolar primary surface. A c-axis of the hexagonal III-nitride semiconductor is inclined at an angle ALPHA with respect to the normal axis toward an m-axis of the hexagonal III-nitride semiconductor. The laser structure includes first and second fractured faces that intersect with an m-n plane defined by the normal axis and the m-axis of the hexagonal III-nitride semiconductor. A laser cavity of the laser device includes the first and second fractured faces. Each of the first and second fractured faces have a stripe structure on an end face of the support base.
US08594144B1	Pump diode driver circuit A laser marker/designator has an energy storage and conversion circuit providing a constant input current to a solid state pulsed pump diode.
US08594137B2	Apparatus and methods for image decoding A partially-built image stored in a buffer (such as for output to a display device) is combined by an image decoder with an encoded image update. The image is in a different format than the encoded image update (such as by being in a spatial domain, whereas the encoded image update is in a frequency domain). The image decoder operates, at least in part, by encoding the image to attain a same format as the encoded image update, combining the encoded image and the encoded image update, and decoding the result for storage in the buffer as an updated version of the image. The encoded image update is part of a progressive encoding. The encoding and/or the decoding are optionally lossy. After the image reaches a predetermined quality threshold, such as a perceptually lossless quality threshold, residual encoding/decoding techniques are optionally used for image updates.
US08594133B2	Communication system using low bandwidth wires A high frequency signal is down-converted into an intermediate frequency signal, transmitted over a limited bandwidth medium from a master unit to a remote unit and up-converted back into its original high frequency at the remote unit. The up-conversion is aided by reconstruction of a reference signal embedded at the master unit as a carrier for a management signal which is transmitted to the remote unit through the same limited bandwidth medium together with the intermediate frequency signal. The reference signal is reconstructed using a phase locked loop which includes a charge pump and is kept stable during intervals between bits and messages by a charge pump shutter.
US08594132B2	Quality of service cognizant scheduler for femtocell base stations A method and system are provided to schedule the transmissions to a plurality of applications for a plurality of users connected to a femtocell taking into account the quality of service (QoS) requirements of each application served while maintaining an efficient use of the wireless radio resources as well as a user and application weighted notion of fairness of service reception. The scheduler differentiates between not only different users but also between applications of each user, and schedules data transmission amongst these applications so that QoS requirements for all applications are satisfied.
US08594131B1	Packet processing on a multi-core processor A method for packet processing on a multi-core processor. According to one embodiment of the invention, a first set of one or more processing cores are configured to include the capability to process packets belonging to a first set of one or more packet types, and a second set of one or more processing cores are configured to include the capability to process packets belonging to a second set of one or more packet types, where the second set of packet types is a subset of the first set of packet types. Packets belonging to the first set of packet types are processed at a processing core of either the first or second set of processing cores. Packets belonging to the second set of packet types are processed at a processing core of the first set of processing cores.
US08594130B2	Method and system for shortening the length of time gaps between data units in a data switching network A group of K data units received consecutively is arranged by a first device. The arranged K data units are sent to the inputs of M devices, and a group of Hj data units of the arranged K data units are transferred by a device j of the M devices. The data units sent to the devices of the M devices are arranged such that no two inputs of the devices of the M devices transferring receive the same data unit at any moment. A second device combines and arranges the K data units from the outputs of the M devices such that the K data units appear at the output of the second device consecutively, and a length of time gap between data units in a data switching network is shortened.
US08594129B2	Wireless LAN communication method and apparatus A wireless local area network (WLAN) communication method and apparatus are provided. The WLAN communication method includes allowing a receiving station to receive a multi input multi output (MIMO) frame, allowing the receiving station to determine whether the MIMO frame is erroneous and whether the MIMO frame is destined for the receiving station, allowing the receiving station to generate a single input single output (SISO) acknowledgement (ACK) frame if the MIMO frame is not erroneous and is destined for the receiving station, and allowing the receiving station to transmit the SISO ACK frame to a sending station that has transmitted the MIMO frame.
US08594127B2	Communication device and communication method A communication device includes: a transmission label table storage that stores a transmission label table that holds pseudo wire labels for each header information of Ethernet (standardized by IEEE 802.3 committee) frames; and an encapsulation unit that deletes the header information from the Ethernet (standardized by IEEE 802.3 committee) frame, adds a pseudo wire label and an MPLS tunnel label to the Ethernet (standardized by IEEE 802.3 committee) frame and transmits a packet to an MPLS network via a pseudo wire, when the header information of the received Ethernet (standardized by IEEE 802.3 committee) frame agrees with the header information held in the transmission label table.
US08594124B2	Method of controlling connection between nodes in digital interface A method of controlling connection between nodes in a digital interface whereby a first node that is a master node determines a second node to be the master and controls a point-to-point connection or a broadcast connection to another node. The first node having the display device determines the second node to be the master in accordance with a user selection, and transmits a connection command of a predetermined format for transmitting a data stream to the second node. The second node determined as the master in accordance with the transmitted connection command of the predetermined format is allocated with a channel and a bandwidth from an isochronous resource manager (IRM), and performs a point-to-point connection between the second node and the first node to transit the data stream. Thus, the transmission/reception, reproduction, and control of the data stream of the program can be smoothly performed.
US08594123B2	Method for detecting distributed peer to transmit multimedia data in wireless peer-to-peer network Disclosed are a wireless peer to peer network system, a distributed peer discovering method for transmitting multimedia data in a wireless peer to peer network, and a method for responding to a request signal for requesting transmission of multimedia data in the wireless peer to peer network. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a distributed peer discovering method for transmitting multimedia data in a wireless peer to peer network, the method including: transmitting a request signal including information on multimedia data to be requested by a first terminal, to neighboring terminals; when at least one second terminal having the requested multimedia data receives the request signal, determining a backoff duration in accordance with at least one of a signal to interference noise ratio of the request signal, an idle reproduction buffer capacity of the second terminal, and a remaining battery capacity of the second terminal and transmitting a response signal to the first terminal after standing by during the determined backoff duration; and transmitting a message for requesting transmission of the multimedia data to the second terminal transmitting the response signal first received by the first terminal.
US08594120B2	Cellular wireless LAN with frequency division multiplex in TV white space Systems, methods, and devices for operating a multiplex wireless local area network using separated uplink and downlink channels in the 802.11 and television white space (TVWS) spectra are disclosed. Opportunistic detection and use of available TVWS frequency channels allows for fixed and mobile wireless devices to more efficiently use the available wireless bandwidth. By using separated uplink and downlink channels, a fixed wireless device can listen to incoming uplink frames from other mobile and fixed wireless devices and monitor for uplink frame collisions. In the event of an uplink frame collision, the fixed wireless device can immediately send a stop frame in the downlink channel to all involved wireless devices to avoid lost channel time due to the delay caused by most acknowledgement-based collision recovery protocols. Similarly, communicating mobile and fixed wireless devices can transmit and receive data frames in both directions simultaneously.
US08594112B2	Memory management for high speed media access control Aspects disclosed herein address the need in the art for memory management for high speed media access control. A packet buffer may store packets with a first data structure, comprising the packet length, sequence number, and a pointer to a second data structure. Packet data may be stored in a linked list of one or more second data structures. Transmit and receive queues may be formed using linked lists or arrays of the first data structures. Memory locations for storing first and second data structures may be kept in lists indicating free locations for the respective data structure types. A flexible memory architecture is disclosed in which two configurations may be selected. Various other aspects are also presented.
US08594111B2	Method and device for buffering cell by crossbar switching matrix The present invention discloses a method for buffering a cell by a crossbar switching matrix, which includes: sending a jitter timestamp to a switching port connected to the crossbar switching matrix through a link, and receiving a cell that is sent by the switching port and carries the jitter timestamp, in which the jitter timestamp indicates a jitter of the link itself; and using a sum of the jitter timestamp carried in the cell and a relative delay timestamp of the corresponding link as a total timestamp, and storing the cell in a buffering unit corresponding to the total timestamp in a cell buffer of the link, in which the relative delay timestamp indicates a difference of a delay of the link relative to a delay of a lowest link.
US08594108B2	Communicating method between IPv4 terminal and IPv6 terminal and IPv4-IPv6 converting apparatus In an apparatus, there are provided an IP transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting and receiving an IPv4 packet and an IPv6 packet; an IP header converting unit for performing a mutual conversion of the IPv4 packet and the IPv6 packet by an IP header conversion; a DNS substituting unit for receiving a domain information capturing request sent from an IPv4 terminal or an IPv6 terminal and substituting its process; an IPv4 address capturing unit for capturing an IPv4 address from a DHCP server; and an IP address conversion information holding unit for holding an IPv6 address of the IPv6 terminal and the IPv4 address captured by the IPv4 address capturing unit in correspondence to each other. Thus, a communication with the IPv4 terminal can be executed without preliminarily fixedly allocating the IPv4 address to the IPv6 terminal.
US08594107B2	System and method for establishing network connection Systems and methods of enabling a user host device to communicate on a network. In an embodiment, a system receives a request packet from a user host device. The request packet, such as an ARP request packet, may include a target IP address that corresponds to a static IP address that is different from any IP address associated with the system. In response to receiving the request packet, the system may send a response packet, such as an ARP response packet, with a sender address that corresponds to the static IP address, and with a sender hardware address that corresponds to a hardware address of the system.
US08594100B2	Data frame forwarding using a distributed virtual bridge Systems and methods to forward data frames are provided. A particular method may include receiving a data frame at a distributed virtual bridge. The distributed virtual bridge includes a first bridge element coupled to a first server computer and a second bridge element coupled to the first bridge element and to a second server computer. The distributed virtual bridge further includes a controlling bridge coupled to the first bridge element and to the second bridge element. The controlling bridge includes a global forwarding table. The data frame is forwarded from the first bridge element to the second bridge element of the distributed virtual bridge using address data associated with the data frame. A logical network associated with the frame may additionally be used to forward the data frame.
US08594099B2	Tunneling-based mobility support equipment and method A tunneling-based mobility support method and apparatus is provided which supports a mobility of a mobile node in a heterogeneous network regardless of IP versions (IPv4/IPv6). The mobility support apparatus includes a load balancer, a plurality of mobility support servers, and a plurality of end routers each being TCP connected to each of the mobility support servers. When receiving a tunnel establishment request message from the mobile node, the load balancer selects one mobility supports server from a plurality of mobility support servers to control a mobility service for the mobile node. The selected mobility support server selects a plurality of tunnel end addresses of one end router from the plurality of end routers to establish an IP tunnel with the mobile node according to a predetermined criterion, forwards the tunnel establishment request message to the end router, and sends the mobile node a tunnel establishment response message including the tunnel end address of the selected end router.
US08594096B2	Dynamic hardware address assignment to network devices in a switch mesh Dynamic hardware address assignment to network devices in a switch mesh is described. In an example, a network device in a switch mesh dynamically assigns a hardware address to a network interface. The network device receives an address request from a client through the switch mesh. The network device calculates an index value for the client based on data in the address request. The network device selects the hardware address of a plurality of hardware addresses assigned to the network interface based on the index value. The switch mesh includes a plurality of traffic paths respectively for the plurality of hardware addresses. The network device sends the hardware address in a reply to the client through the switch mesh.
US08594095B1	System, method, and computer program for modifying an 802.1Q and/or 802.1QinQ header to reduce a size of an associated data packet A system, method, and computer program product are provided for modifying an 802.1Q and/or 802.1QinQ header to reduce a size of an associated data packet. In use, data to be communicated over a network is identified. Additionally, at least one data packet is generated for use in communicating the data over the network, where each data packet includes one of an 802.1Q and an 802.1QinQ Ethernet header. Furthermore, the Ethernet header is modified to reduce a size of the at least one data packet.
US08594094B2	Mechanisms for data handling during a relay handover with S1 termination at evolved universal terrestrial radio access network access node An access node comprising at least one component configured to support forwarding of data packets to a user agent connected to a relay node, wherein the relay node is connected to the access node, and wherein the access node is a termination point for a first tunneling path from a core network.
US08594091B2	Methods and apparatus for enabling communication between network elements that operate at different bit rates An apparatus and method for switching and/or routing electronic data between two networks communicating at different bit rates, where the bit rate of the faster network divided by the bit rate of the slower network is a non-integer. A switching/routing unit interconnects the networks via two set of lanes, one set connected to each network. Each lane communicates at a bit rate that is a common factor of the two bit rates. One set of lanes communicates with a set of transceivers that communicate at the faster bit rate on the faster network. The other set of lanes communicates with a (larger) set of network elements (NEs) that communicate at the slower bit rate on the slower network. Each transceiver and NE is structured so that the total bit rate of the lanes communicating with it is equal to the bit rate of its respective network.
US08594082B2	Priority based flow control in a distributed fabric protocol (DFP) switching network architecture A switching network includes an upper tier and a lower tier including a plurality of lower tier entities. A master switch in the upper tier, which has a plurality of ports each coupled to a respective lower tier entity, implements on each of the ports a plurality of virtual ports each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of remote physical interfaces (RPIs) at the lower tier entity coupled to that port. Data traffic communicated between the master switch and RPIs is queued within virtual ports that correspond to the RPIs on lower tier entities with which the data traffic is communicated. The master switch enforces priority-based flow control (PFC) on data traffic of a given virtual port by transmitting, to a lower tier entity on which a corresponding RPI resides, a PFC data frame specifying priorities for at least two different classes of data traffic communicated by the particular RPI.
US08594077B2	Method and system for establishing wireless IP connectivity A method and system for establishing wireless IP connectivity, in which a wireless communication device (WCD) obtains a routable IP address during its registration with a radio access network, rather than first registering with the RAN and then subsequently requesting and acquiring packet-data connectivity. Preferably, when the WCD sends a radio access registration request that triggers a registration notification to a home location register (HLR), the HLR or an associated entity will assign an IP address for use by the WCD and will deliver the assigned IP address in a registration notification response message to the RAN. The RAN will then deliver the assigned IP address to the WCD over the air in a radio access registration response message. The WCD may then use the assigned IP address to engage in packet data communications, such as to set up a VoIP session with another IP node, for instance.
US08594066B2	Apparatus and method for managing channel resource in beacon-enabled wireless personal area network (WPAN) Provided are a node device of a beacon-enabled Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) managing a channel resource and a method thereof. The node device may generate a pseudo random binary sequence (PRBS) and generate a hopping sequence based on a number of available channels using the PRBS, thereby generating a hopping sequence having a characteristic of pseudo randomness and selecting a channel to be hopped, using the hopping sequence.
US08594065B2	System and method for preventing mobile device communication A computer-implemented method for preventing communication using a mobile communication device is provided. The method includes enabling a motion detection process and detecting with the motion detection process at a first instance the mobile device is in motion. The motion detection process is disabled in response to detecting the mobile device is in motion. An attempted communication is detected via the mobile device, and the motion detection process is re-enabled in response to detecting the attempted communication. The method further includes detecting with the motion detection process at a second instance if the mobile device is in motion. If the mobile device is detected at the second instance in motion, the attempted communication is disabled. If the mobile device is detected at the second instance not in motion, the attempted communication is enabled.
US08594059B2	Information transmitting method and information transmitting system An information transmitting method including; determining, on a basis of a packet error rate from a master station to slave stations, a number of times of multicast transmission in accordance with an expected value of a number of slave stations that transmit a retransmission request, an expected value of a number of retransmitted packets responding to the retransmission request, or a probability that the slave stations receive all packets forming information; notifying determined number of times of multicast transmission to the slave stations; and transmitting, to plural slave stations in multicast, same information formed of plural packets the determined times of multicast transmission.
US08594056B2	Method and apparatus for dynamic and dual antenna bluetooth (BT)/WLAN coexistence An apparatus and method are disclosed for effectively and efficiently arbitrating concurrent usage between WLAN and Bluetooth access technologies for co-located wireless devices. A state level arbiter determines state and relevant parameters of a WLAN module and of a Bluetooth module of a wireless transceiver unit. The state level arbiter uses the state and relevant parameters to determine which access technology (WLAN or Bluetooth) or combination of the access technologies (WLAN or Bluetooth) will provide the best concurrent performance for wireless transmissions at a given time for specific Bluetooth states and WLAN states.
US08594055B2	Wireless communication system, base station, scheduling method, and program A wireless communication system comprising: a holding unit that holds at least wireless resource allocation information on an opposite-direction communication link for use as information for deciding priority of wireless resource allocation to mobile stations, said opposite-direction communication link being a communication link in a direction opposite to a direction in which allocation priority is to be decided; and a scheduling unit that performs scheduling to allocate wireless resources with priority given to mobile stations, to which wireless resources are allocated on the opposite-direction communication link, using the wireless resource allocation information on the opposite-direction communication link.
US08594047B2	Inter-node B handover method The present invention discloses an inter-Node B handover method, wherein a target eNB sends a Handover Request Acknowledge message including handover reference frequency point information through a source eNB to a user equipment, wherein the handover reference frequency point information includes center frequency point information of an uplink component carrier designated for the user equipment to initiate a random access request. Further, the present invention discloses another inter-Node B handover method, wherein a target eNB orderly arrays center frequency point information of uplink component carriers of a target cell to obtain a first list, the target eNB sends a Handover Request Acknowledge message including the first list through a source eNB to a user equipment, and the user equipment requests a random access according to the center frequency point information of a first uplink component carrier. Through the solution of the present invention, the usage rate of the random access resources for the target eNB can be improved effectively and the conflict of random is accesses can be reduced.
US08594046B2	Method of performing an intra-segment handover The invention concerns a method of performing an intra-segment handover (HO) of a mobile station (MS) from a source access point (AP1) of a tree-structured segment (S1) of an Ethernet-compliant telecommunication network to a target access point (AP2) of said segment (S1), as well as a switch (SW-123) to support the execution of this method. After establishing contact between the mobile station (MS) and the target access point (AP2), the mobile station (MS) sends an update entry request addressed to the segment gateway switch (GW). The update entry request is received by a switch (SW-123) positioned in the tree structure of the segment (S1) hierarchically above the source and target access points (AP1, AP2) and below the segment gateway switch (GW). The switch (SW-123) checks whether its forwarding database contains a first entry comprising an address of the mobile station (MS) received by means of the update entry request. If the forwarding database of the switch (SW-123) contains the first entry, the switch (SW-123) squelches said update entry request and assumes the function of an anchor switch regarding the handover (HO), whereby the anchor switch is a switch of the segment (S1) which is positioned in the tree structure of the segment (S1) hierarchically above the source and target access points (AP1, AP2) and below the segment gateway switch (GW) and which is common to the ongoing session before and after the handover (HO).
US08594034B2	Method for joining a network, and method and apparatus for transmitting frames A beacon-based network, a method for joining a network, and a method and an apparatus for transmitting frames are disclosed. The beacon-based network includes: a device node, configured to carry superframe time sequence indication information in a data frame and/or command frame and send the frame during the process of communicating with a coordinator node; and a pending node, configured to: monitor a packet transmitted in a network, and request to join the network according to a beacon if the beacon is monitored; obtain beacon information, which includes superframe time sequence indication information, from a monitored data frame or command frame after monitoring the data frame or command frame, and request to join the network through a monitored network operating channel according to the beacon information. The foregoing technical solution shortens the time spent by the pending node in monitoring the beacon, and reduces the time spent by the pending node in requesting to join the network.
US08594030B2	Method for controlling HARQ operation in dynamic radio resource allocation A wireless communication system providing wireless communication services and a terminal are provided. There is also provided a method for communicating data between a base station and a terminal in Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) or Long Term Evolution (LTE) System evolved from UMTS, particularly, a method for transferring maximum data with minimum radio resources by controlling a Hybrid Automatic Repeat request (HARQ) operation in a dynamic radio resource allocation or scheduling.
US08594025B2	Methods and apparatus for distributing content in a multi-frequency network Methods and apparatus for distributing content in a multi-frequency network. A method includes combining service overheads with a content multiplex to generate service layer multiplexes, determining regions of the multi-frequency network where a service layer multiplex is to be distributed, combining distribution overheads with the service layer multiplex to generate distribution layer multiplexes, and transmitting the distribution layer multiplexes over the regions of the multi-frequency network. An apparatus includes combining logic configured to combine service overheads with a content multiplex to generate service layer multiplexes; determine regions of the multi-frequency network where a service layer multiplex is to be distributed; and combine distribution overheads with the service layer multiplex to generate distribution layer multiplexes. The apparatus also includes output logic configured to transmit the distribution layer multiplexes over the regions of the multi-frequency network.
US08594024B2	Mobile IP over VPN communication protocol The present invention supports a communication protocol for transmission of information packets between a mobile node and a virtual private network. Information packets are encapsulated and decapsulated along the route as the information packet is forwarded among the various networks on its path to the destination address; either the mobile node on a foreign network or a correspondence node on a virtual private network. A home agent on the virtual private network supports transmitting the information packets, and the information packets are transmitted from the virtual private network from the home agent or a virtual private network gateway.
US08594018B2	Ranging for wireless radio frequency communication devices The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for radio ranging and more particularly to methods and systems for determining time of arrival (TOA) of a ranging signal at a reference wireless device in order to determine distance between the reference wireless device and a target wireless device.
US08594014B2	Systems and methods for selecting tracking areas and reducing paging Some embodiments provide methods for selecting tracking areas in a network, including: generating and storing a plurality of tracking area groups based on which tracking areas of a plurality of tracking areas are served by which base transceiver stations of a plurality of base transceiver stations, each tracking area group including at least one tracking area; receiving a request for a tracking area list from user equipment connected to the network from a first tracking area belonging to a first tracking area group of the stored plurality of tracking area groups; based on the stored plurality of tracking area groups and the first tracking area group, generating a list comprising at least one tracking area; and sending the list comprising at least one tracking area to the user equipment.
US08594009B2	Communication systems A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. The system includes a base station, a relay station and mobile stations. The method transmits using a downlink transmission frame that has a first zone for transmitting radio signals from the base station to the relay station, a second zone for transmitting radio signals from the relay station to a mobile station, and a third zone provided between the first zone and the second zone for transmitting radio signals from the base station directly to a mobile station.
US08594007B2	Sequential ACK for multi-user transmissions Techniques are provided for sending an acknowledgment from a station to an access point in response to a multi-user transmission, which may include receiving a multi-user transmission addressed to a multi-user group including the station, determining a response position of the station in a sequence of responses based on an order of the station in the group, and sending the acknowledgment in the determined response position. Techniques are also provided for ordering acknowledgments from a group of stations addressed in a multi-user transmission from an access point, which may include selecting a group identifier to identify the group of stations to receive the multi-user transmission, configuring a header portion of the multi-user transmission to indicate a Sequential ACK acknowledgment policy for station responses based on an order of the stations in the group, and transmitting the multi-user transmission to the group.
US08594004B2	Offline mobile RFID event persistency and synchronization In various embodiments, RFID events are stored in a normalized format on mobile device configured by metadata pushed by a centralized data hub. RFID events are pre-processes with filtering logic by a mobile interrogator/reader before being inserted into tables of a local relational database on the mobile device when the mobile device cannot otherwise communicate collected events to the centralized data hub. The metadata provides a simple, efficient, and standard interface for persisting the RFID events such that local access from applications on the mobile device is provided.
US08594002B2	Method and system of mapping displayport over a wireless interface A method and system to facilitate the mapping of the DisplayPort standard over a wireless interface. The wireless interface uses a communication protocol that operates in accordance with, but is not limited to, a wireless gigabit alliance (WGA) standard, a Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a/b/g, IEEE 802.11n, and other IEEE wireless standards, a Bluetooth standard, a Ultra-wideband (UWB) standard, and a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard. In one embodiment of the invention, it provides a definition for mapping the DisplayPort standard over a wireless interface to enable wireless display usage model with existing or new DisplayPort sink devices. The definition for mapping the DisplayPort standard over a wireless interface allows end-to-end interoperability of DisplayPort based wireless devices and facilitates the adoption of the definition as an industry standard in one embodiment of the invention.
US08594000B2	Apparatus and method for controlling self-interference in a cellular communications system The invention relates to a radio base station (102) and method in a radio base station of a cellular communications system (100) for controlling self-interference. The radio base station (102) supports communication with a user equipment (101) using multiple uplink and multiple downlink carriers (104a, 104b, 105a, 105b). The method comprises detecting a degraded downlink performance on a downlink carrier (105a) due to self-interference by determining that a set of predefined conditions applies. The method further comprises executing, in response to detection of the degraded downlink performance, an action to reduce self-interference between the uplink and downlink carriers (104a, 104b, 105a, 105b). The action is one of: uplink scheduling to reduce self-interference, deactivation of a secondary uplink carrier (14a, 104b), deactivation of a secondary downlink carrier (105a, 105b), and initiation of carrier reconfiguration to reduce self-interference. Accordingly, benefits of using multi-carrier operation may be balanced against a possible associated drawback of degraded downlink performance due to self-interference.
US08593998B2	Time reversal method of processing symbols in bidirectional communication For processing symbols transmitted in frames and separated by guard intervals via a propagation channel between first and second communicating entities using time-division duplexing, the second entity receives at least one pulse transmitted by the first entity. The second entity estimates the impulse response of the propagation channel as a function of the pulse received and time reverses the estimated impulse response in order to filter the symbols as a function of the time-reversed impulse response. The second entity then transmits the modulated symbols and a second pulse to the first entity during a guard interval in a frame in order to process the modulated symbols.
US08593994B2	Methods and program products for organizing virtual meetings A method for organizing a virtual meeting includes steps of creating a meeting file, the meeting file including at least a meeting date, a meeting start time, a meeting duration time, and a meeting code. The meeting file is stored on a memory accessible to the network, and at least one attendee is specified. A step of communicating a meeting invitation to the at least one attendee is also performed, with the invitation including at least the meeting date, meeting start time, meeting code, and a meeting entry portal. Methods and systems of the invention may be embodied in computers and computer program products.
US08593988B2	Method and apparatus for increasing spectrum use efficiency in a mesh network Mesh Network Access Points (APs) points, including gateways and routers, are deployed over a geographic area. The APs monitor the communication channel for other carriers and transmit accordingly. The APs selectively co-transmit when other carriers are sensed, if the efficiency of the mesh network will improve. APs select a transmission rate based on observed carrier-to-interference ratios. APs use directional antennas to increase carrier-to-interference ratios and spectral efficiency. AP transmit schedules are adaptable and adjusted according to observed carrier-to-interference measurements.
US08593985B2	Transmitting apparatus, receiving apparatus, transmitting and receiving system, and transmitting and receiving method A transmitting apparatus accurately estimates an available bandwidth even in a high bandwidth in a network. The transmitting apparatus includes a timer that generates a signal having a signal cycle of a predetermined unit time and a packet train generating unit that generates probe packets each transmitted at the signal cycle, and generates, at least one adjustment packet inserted between two of the probe packets, the number of which corresponds to a measurement The apparatus also includes a transmitting unit that transmits, at the signal cycle, each probe packet having transmission time information, and the adjustment packet between the two probe packets, a receiving unit which receives, from a receiving apparatus, return information obtainable based on a reception time of each probe packet and a determining unit that determines the available bandwidth, using the received return information.
US08593976B2	Wireless base station and terminal equipment It is an object to provide a wireless base station and a terminal equipment capable of shortening the processing time by not requiring the detection of the spatial correlation coefficient, which is required in general technology, and simplifying the selection process for terminal equipments to be connected to each other in a wireless base station that performs spatial multiplexing transmission to a plurality of terminal equipments and a terminal equipment responding for spatial multiplexing transmission.A terminal equipment 12 includes an interference cancellation capability information data maintaining section 20 that maintains interference cancellation capability information data indicating the interference cancellation capability of the terminal equipment 12 and signals the interference cancellation capability information data to a wireless base station 1. The wireless base station 1 includes a control signal extracting unit 3 and a spatial multiplexing controller 4, and the spatial multiplexing controller 4 selects one or more terminal equipments 12 for spatial multiplexing connection on the basis of the interference cancellation capability information data extracted from a reception signal from the terminal equipment 12.
US08593975B2	Non-intrusive monitoring of quality levels for voice communications over a packet-based network Provided is a method and apparatus for objectively and non-intrusively measuring voice quality on live calls without disrupting the call session or the network. A communication system includes plural communities each including a switch that controls access to a packet-based data network for call sessions. Each of the communities is coupled to the data network by respective packet-based trunks. Quality of service (QoS) monitoring devices are coupled to the respective packet-based trunks to monitor quality levels of routes between any two given communities. Each QoS monitoring device receives packets containing streaming data (which may be actual packets or test packets). From the received packets, the QoS monitoring device can derive QoS parameters, particularly for audio and speech signals on live calls without disrupting the call session.
US08593973B2	Communicating network path and status information in multi-homed networks An example network system includes a layer two (L2) device and a layer three (L3) device. The L2 device includes a control unit is configured to determine a preferred network path from a first L2 network in which the L2 device resides to an intermediate L3 network in which the L3 device resides that couples the first L2 network to a second L2 network having a second L2 device. The control unit includes a management endpoint (MEP) module. The MEP module executes an operations, administration, and management (OAM) protocol to monitor the first L2 network and output an L2 frame in accordance with the OAM protocol to the L3 device to notify the L3 device that it is within the preferred network path. A MEP module of the L3 device executes an OAM protocol that outputs L2 frames to the L2 device indicating the status of the L3 network.
US08593972B2	Method to verify a drop probability curve In one embodiment, a test technique verifies a drop probability curve implemented by an intermediate node of a computer network, wherein a test point of the drop probability curve has a drop probability value and a queue length value. Traffic may be loaded into a queue of the node at a constant bit rate that is based on the drop probability value and an output rate associated with queue. An average traffic latency may then be measured, and an actual queue length may be calculated by multiplying the measured average traffic latency with the output rate. The drop probability curve may be verified when the calculated queue length is within a specified tolerance of the queue length value associated with the test point.
US08593969B1	Method and apparatus for rate-limiting traffic flow of packets in a network device A switching device includes a plurality of bandwidth tracking modules each configured to store an adjustable first threshold, a fullness level, and an adjustable rate. Subsets of the bandwidth tracking modules are assigned to each of the plurality of ports. Each subset includes one or more bandwidth tracking modules. A rate limiting module is configured to perform an action on a packet received at one of the plurality of ports based on the fullness levels of the bandwidth tracking modules in a corresponding one of the subsets of the bandwidth tracking modules.
US08593968B2	Quality of service management for message flows across multiple middleware environments A method of managing information system resources to provide a message flow having a consistent level of quality of service (QoS) within and across a plurality of interconnected middleware domains is described. The method includes receiving a QoS message from a first QoS manager expressing at least one QoS requirement, translating the at least one QoS requirement to at least one parameter specific to a messaging service that communicatively couples multiple middleware domains, creating a client connection between a first middleware domain and the messaging service for receiving the message flow, transmitting the QoS message to a second middleware domain, and creating a client connection between the messaging service and the second middleware domain for transmitting the message flow.
US08593962B2	System and method for tracking maximum throughput and SLA compliance A system and method for controlling maximum throughput for communications. A frame size of each packet communicated to a UNI is determined. A maximum throughput is determined in response to the determined frame size of each packet communicated to the UNI. Frames per second are measured at the UNI. An amount of loss at the UNI is determined. A message indicating the maximum throughput, the amount of loss, and the frames per second is communicated in response to determining there is loss.
US08593961B2	Link bundled co-routed VCAT via RSVP message bundling Multiple RSVP messages are used to separately signal components of co-routed VCAT to enable the separate components to be implemented on different physical fibers of a link bundle. To enable the PATH messages to be handled as a group, the multiple PATH messages are grouped together and sent out in a RSVP bundle message. When a RSVP bundle message containing multiple PATH messages is received at a network element, such as an ENNI, where the route for the PATH messages needs to be expanded, the route is expanded collectively rather than individually. Specifically, the route will first be expanded and this expanded route will be inserted into each individual PATH message. The modified PATH messages with the expanded route will then be passed through the RSVP finite state machine one at a time to enable resources to be reserved for the connections of the VCAT. Thus, a single LSP may be created for each channel, and the channels may be co-routed even where route expansion is required.
US08593959B2	VoIP endpoint call admission The present invention is directed generally to an intelligent endpoint or communication device that can collect available bandwidth-related information metrics and/or perform call admission control functions. The present invention is further directed to an architecture comprising a switch or media server in communication with a plurality of subscriber communication devices in which the subscriber communication devices act as network nodes to collect available bandwidth-related information.
US08593958B2	Network-wide flow monitoring in split architecture networks Flow monitoring tasks are assigned to a set of switches in a split architecture network to optimize network-wide flow monitoring. The assignment maximizes the number of monitored flows and reduces overhead of the flow monitoring. A controller receives an estimated traffic volume for each path in the network. The controller calculates, for all of the switches and all of the paths, sampling fractions that maximize the number of the flows sampled by the switches. In response to a request for setting up a new flow to traverse one of the paths in the network, the controller assigns the new flow to one of the switches that are located on the one of the paths, based on the sampling fraction for the assigned switch and the one of the paths, the bandwidth constraint and the memory constraint.
US08593957B2	Technique for determining transport capacity required to achieve controllable worst case throughput A link in a communications network is provisioned with a particular bandwidth capacity determined as a function of a “sub-par customer data fraction.” The sub-par data fraction is given by a) the amount of data transferred under sub-par condition divided by b) the total data transferred, where “sub-par condition” means that data is transferred below a given target bit rate.
US08593956B2	Methods for congestion control for machine type communication (MTC) devices or low priority devices, and apparatuses using the same A mobile communication device configured for Machine Type Communication (MTC) or configured as a low priority device is provided. In the mobile communication device, a wireless module performs wireless transmissions and receptions to and from a service network, and a controller module transmits a connection request message to the service network via the wireless module in response to initiating a combined attachment procedure or a combined routing area update procedure for both Packet-Switched (PS) and Circuit-Switched (CS) domains, and receives a connection rejection message with an indication of an extended wait timer from the service network via the wireless module. Also, the controller module initiates a location registration procedure for the CS domain or enters a substate in which initiation of the location registration procedure for the CS domain is allowed, in response to the connection rejection message for the PS domain.
US08593950B2	Method and apparatus for providing a weighted bandwidth allocation for a network A method and apparatus for providing bandwidth allocation for a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives data from a plurality of subscribers for transmission, and allocates a minimum reserved bandwidth to each of the plurality of subscribers. The method then allocates a portion of a shareable bandwidth to at least one of the plurality of subscribers in accordance with a weight factor.
US08593944B2	Method, apparatus and communication system for protecting signaling transmission The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus, and a communication system for protecting signaling transmission, relates to the communication field, and enables end-to-end signaling protection. In an embodiment of the present invention, a primary signaling path and at least one secondary signaling path are created between terminals; the transmission protocol of the primary signaling path is different from the transmission protocol of the secondary signaling path, and the secondary signaling path works instead when the primary signaling path is in an abnormal state. The embodiments of the present invention are primarily applied to communication systems, and in particular, to the communication systems that support multiple transmission modes, for example, WCDMA system that supports IP bearers.
US08593939B2	Method and apparatus for maintaining active calls during failover of network elements A method and apparatus for keeping transitory state in a packet network so that in the event of a failover of a network element, existing active calls can be quickly re-established by the packet network or briefly held in a suspended state until the affected network element returns to a healthy state is disclosed.
US08593938B2	Ultra-wideband radio reception using variable sampling rates over a spreading sequence cycle A radio receiver accumulates, over all hops of a frequency hopping cycle, digital samples of a carrier signal correlated with a spreading sequence, and performs a Fourier transformation of the accumulated digital samples to generate output data representative of data conveyed by the carrier signal and/or the time of receipt of the carrier signal. The receiver includes a processor arranged to synchronize itself with the frequency hopping cycle and with the spreading sequence at each predetermined value of frequency, by repeating the correlation at different phases of the hopping sequence and of the spreading sequence so as to maximize the output data The correlation and accumulation are performed at a higher sampling rate over a high-resolution portion of one spreading sequence cycle than over the remainder of that spreading sequence cycle.
US08593937B2	OFDM-CDMA equipment and method An OFDM signal transmission apparatus is provided, which includes a mapping unit configured to map first signals into N subcarriers and second signals into M subcarrier(s) to form an OFDM signal, wherein N is larger than M. The first signals are each indicating a same bit of retransmission information and the second signals are each indicating a same bit of information other than retransmission information. The OFDM signal transmission apparatus further includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit the formed OFDM signal.
US08593927B2	Method of reading optical information and method of recording optical information In a method of recording and reading optical information in a recording medium using holography, a first recording operation is performed for recording optical information in a first recording region in an overlapping manner by allowing a reference beam and a signal beam with data loaded to interfere with each other in the first recording region, the reference beam being angularly multiplexed at predetermined intervals. Furthermore, a second recording operation is performed for recording optical information in a second recording region adjacent to the first recording region in an overlapping manner by allowing the reference beam and the signal beam to interfere with each other in the second recording region, the reference beam being angularly multiplexed between the predetermined intervals. Consequently, optical information can be recorded so as to easily detect and determine a selected reproducing beam, thus increasing the reading efficiency of the optical information.
US08593917B2	High data density optical recording medium The present invention relates to a high data density optical recording medium. The invention further relates to an apparatus for reading from such an optical recording medium. The optical recording medium has marks that are arranged in tracks. The tracks have a cross section with a curved shape and protrude above a surface of the optical recording medium.
US08593915B2	Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head capable of reducing the transient protrusion of an antenna A slider mounted TAMR (Thermal Assisted Magnetic Recording), DFH (Dynamic Flying Height) type read/write head using optical-laser generated surface plasmons in a small antenna to locally heat a magnetic medium, uses the same optical laser at low power to pre-heat the antenna. Maintaining the antenna at this pre-heated temperature, approximately 50% of its highest temperature during write operations, allows the DFH mechanism sufficient time to compensate for the thermal protrusion of the antenna at that lower temperature, so that thermal protrusion transients are significantly reduced when a writing operation occurs and full laser power is applied. The time constant for antenna protrusion is less than the time constant for DFH fly height compensation, so, without pre-heating, the thermal protrusion of the antenna due to absorption of optical radiation cannot be compensated by the DFH effect.
US08593914B2	Method and system for optically coupling a laser with a transducer in an energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head are described. The EAMR head includes a laser, a slider, and an EAMR transducer. The laser has a main emitter and at least one alignment emitter. The slider includes at least one alignment waveguide, at least one output device, and an air-bearing surface (ABS). The alignment waveguide(s) are aligned with the alignment emitter(s). The EAMR transducer is coupled with the slider and includes a waveguide aligned with main emitter. The waveguide is for directing energy from the main emitter toward the ABS.
US08593905B2	Marine seismic surveying in icy or obstructed waters A skeg mounts from the stern of a towing vessel and extends below the waterline. A channel in the skeg protects cables for steamers and a source of a seismic system deployed from the vessel. Tow points on the skeg lie below the water's surface and connect to towlines to support the steamers and source. A floatation device supports the source and tows below the water's surface to avoid ice floes. The streamers can have vehicles deployed thereon for controlling a position on the streamer. To facilitate locating the streamers, these vehicles on the streamers can be brought to the surface when clear of ice floes so that GPS readings can be obtained and communicated to a control system. After obtaining readings, the vehicles can be floated back under the surface. Deploying, using, and retrieving the system accounts for ice at the surface in icy regions. In addition, handling the seismic record can account for noise generated by ice impact events.
US08593904B2	Method and device to acquire seismic data Streamer and method for deploying the streamer for seismic data acquisition related to a subsurface of a body of water. The method includes a step of releasing into the body of water, from a vessel, a body having a predetermined length together with plural detectors provided along the body; a step of towing the body and the plural detectors such that the plural detectors are submerged; and a step of configuring plural birds provided along the body, to float at a predetermined depth from a surface of the water such that a first portion of the body has a curved profile while being towed underwater.
US08593900B2	Method and apparatus for performing multi-block access operation in nonvolatile memory device A nonvolatile memory device comprises a first mat, a second mat, a third mat, a first address decoder, a second address decoder, and a third address decoder. The first mat comprises first memory blocks, the second mat comprises second memory blocks, and the third mat comprises third memory blocks. The first address decoder selects one of the first memory blocks according to a first even address, the second address decoder selects one of the second memory blocks according to a second even address or a first odd address, and the third address decoder selects one of the third memory blocks according to a second odd address.
US08593896B2	Differential read write back sense amplifier circuits and methods A differential read write back sense amplifier circuit and corresponding methods. A memory array comprises a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of read word lines coupled to the memory cells; a plurality of write word lines coupled to the memory cells arranged along rows of the memory array; a plurality of read bit line pairs coupled to the memory cells arranged in columns; a plurality of write bit line pairs coupled to the memory cells arranged in columns; and at least one differential read write back sense amplifier coupled to a read bit line pair and coupled to a write bit line pair corresponding to one of the columns of memory cells, configured to differentially sense small signal read data on the read bit line pair, and output the sensed data onto the write bit line pair. Corresponding methods are disclosed.
US08593894B2	Semiconductor memory device having fuse elements programmed by irradiation with laser beam A relief-address control unit of a semiconductor memory device includes a fuse storage unit and a relief circuit. The fuse storage unit includes a plurality of fuse elements that are made nonconductive by irradiation with a laser beam, and a protective film with an opening directly above the fuse elements to facilitate the laser beam to pass through. The relief circuit specifies a relieved address based on a nonconductive state of the fuse elements. The opening is in a unified form along a long-side direction of the fuse storage unit. Further, the relief circuit is arranged adjacent to a short-side end of the fuse storage unit.
US08593886B2	Semiconductor system including semiconductor device A semiconductor system includes a controller configured to apply code signals for setting levels of a reference voltage and data, and to receive output data. The semiconductor system also includes a semiconductor device configured to receive the data for the respective levels of the reference voltage set according to the code signals, to compare the reference voltages with the data to generate new data, to store the new data as internal data, and to process the stored internal data to output as the output data.
US08593882B2	Semiconductor memory device and method of erasing the same A semiconductor memory device includes memory cell blocks having physical pages coupled to memory cells, peripheral circuits configured to program the memory cells or read data stored in the memory cells, and a controller configured to control the peripheral circuits so that a pre-program is performed to make memory cells in the memory cell blocks have threshold voltages higher than a set voltage by programming memory cells of the selected memory cell block, having threshold voltages lower than the set voltage, in response to an erase command. The set voltage is an intermediate threshold voltage obtained from the threshold voltages of the memory cells of the selected memory cell block.
US08593881B2	Pre-charge sensing scheme for non-volatile memory (NVM) The pipe effect can significantly degrade flash performance. A method to significantly reduce pipe current and (or neighbor current using a pre-charge sequence) is disclosed. A dedicated read order keeps the sensing node facing the section of the pipe which was pre-charged. The technique involves pre-charging several global bitlines (such as metal bitlines, or MBLs) and local bitlines (such as diffusion bitlines, or DBLs). The pre-charged global bitlines are selected according to a pre-defined table per each address. The selection of the global bitlines is done according to whether these global bitlines will interfere with the pipe during the next read cycle.
US08593880B2	Semiconductor memory system including a plurality of semiconductor memory devices A communication line is connected to first and second chips, and held at a first signal level. A monitor circuit changes a signal level of the communication line from the first signal to a second signal level while one of the first and second chips uses a current larger than a reference current. When the signal level of the communication line is the second signal level, the other of the first and second chips is controlled to a wait state that does not transfer to an operating state of using a current larger than the reference current.
US08593877B2	Method of programming non-volatile memory device and apparatuses for performing the method A non-volatile memory device is provided. The non-volatile memory device includes a cell string including a plurality of non-volatile memory cells; and an operation control block configured to supply a program voltage to a word line connected to a selected non-volatile memory cell among the plurality of non-volatile memory cells during a program operation, configured to supply a first negative voltage to the word line during a detrapping operation, and configured to supply a second negative voltage as a verify voltage to the word line during a program verify operation.
US08593874B2	Voltage generation circuit which is capable of reducing circuit area According to one embodiment, a voltage generation circuit includes a first boost circuit, a first output circuit, a rectifying circuit, a second output circuit, and a detection circuit. The first boost circuit outputs a first voltage in first and second operation modes. The first output circuit is connected to the first boost circuit, and outputs the first voltage as a second voltage in the first operation mode. The rectifying circuit is connected to the first boost circuit, and outputs a third voltage which is lower than the first voltage in the first operation mode. The second output circuit short-circuits the rectifying circuit in the second operation mode, and outputs the first voltage as a fourth voltage. The detection circuit detects the second and fourth voltages which are supplied from the first and second output circuits.
US08593867B2	Flash memory device and reading method thereof A flash memory device wherein off cell margin is increased by controlling a voltage of a sensing node and a corresponding reading method, wherein the flash memory device includes a memory cell array; a sensing node voltage controller generating a precharge voltage and a sensing node voltage control signal; and a page buffer unit connected to the memory cell array through bit lines and having page buffers. The page buffers include a bit line connection unit connected between a corresponding bit line and a sensing node, that controls a voltage of the sensing node according to the sensing node voltage control signal; a precharge unit which precharges the sensing node according to the precharge voltage responsive to a precharge control signal; and a data input/output unit sensing a voltage level of the sensing node responsive to a latch control signal and outputting the data of the selected memory cell.
US08593866B2	Systems and methods for operating multi-bank nonvolatile memory A non-volatile memory system that has multiple memory banks initially assigns logical addresses to memory banks according to an assignment scheme, maintains this assignment for a period of time, then identifies frequently-written data (“hot-data”) assigned to a memory bank that is heavily worn over that period of time and reassigns it to a less worn memory bank.
US08593865B2	Nonvolatile memory device having stacked transistor configuration A nonvolatile memory device comprises a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory blocks, an address decoder that selects one of the memory blocks in response to an input address and generates a first control signal and a second control signal, a plurality of metal lines connected with the memory blocks and extending along a first direction, a plurality of pass transistors that connect the address decoder with a first subset of the metal lines connected with the selected memory block in response to the first control signal, and a plurality of ground transistors that supply a low voltage to a second subset of the metal lines connected with unselected memory blocks in response to the second control signal. The ground transistors have channels that extend along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US08593864B2	Nonvolatile memory device and method of programming the same A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array including a number of memory cells coupled to a selected bit line, a bit line selection unit configured to select and precharge the selected bit line, and a potential control unit configured to control a voltage level of the precharged bit line in response to a voltage level corresponding to a value of program data.
US08593862B2	Spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory having magnetic tunnel junction with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy A spin-torque transfer memory random access memory (STTMRAM) element includes a fixed layer formed on top of a substrate and a tunnel layer formed upon the fixed layer and a composite free layer formed upon the tunnel barrier layer and made of an iron platinum alloy with at least one of X or Y material, X being from a group consisting of: boron (B), phosphorous (P), carbon (C), and nitride (N) and Y being from a group consisting of: tantalum (Ta), titanium (Ti), niobium (Nb), zirconium (Zr), tungsten (W), silicon (Si), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), hafnium (Hf) and bismuth (Bi), molybdenum (Mo) or rhodium (Ru), the magnetization direction of each of the composite free layer and fixed layer being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the substrate.
US08593860B2	Systems and methods of sectioned bit line memory arrays A sectioned bit line of an SRAM memory device, an SRAM memory device having a sectioned bit line, and associated systems and methods are described. In one illustrative implementation, the sectioned bit line may comprise a local bit line, a memory cell connected to the local bit line, and a pass gate coupled to the local bit line, wherein the pass gate is configured to be coupled to a global bit line. In other implementations, an SRAM memory device may be configured involving sectioned bit lines and a global bit line wherein the pass gates are configured to connect and isolate the sectioned bit line and the global bit line.
US08593855B2	Semiconductor memory device In a semiconductor memory device using a variable resistive element made of a metal oxide for storing information, a voltage amplitude of a writing voltage pulse for changing the variable resistive element to a high resistance state is set within a voltage range in which the resistance value of the high resistance state after the change increases with time. The voltage amplitude is set within the voltage range in which the resistance value of the high resistance state after the change increases toward a predetermined peak with increase in voltage amplitude. When a data error is detected by the ECC circuit, it is estimated that the data that should be in the low resistance state changes to the high resistance state, and the variable resistive elements of all memory cells from which the error is detected are written to the low resistance state to correct the error bit.
US08593854B1	Structure and method for forming conductive path in resistive random-access memory device An array and forming method for resistive-RAM (RRAM) devices provides for the simultaneous selection of multiple bit cells and the simultaneous forming of the RRAM resistive elements within the selected bit cells. The bit cells each include a resistive element and a transistor and are arranged vertically along vertical bit lines. The resistive elements of the bit cells are coupled to source lines that are parallel to word lines and perpendicular to the vertical bit lines. The bit lines are maintained at different biases. A high voltage is applied to one of the source lines coupled to adjacent resistive elements of bit cells disposed along more than one vertical bit line. When the associated transistors are turned on by a sufficiently high gate voltage, the desired RRAM resistive elements along one of the bit lines are formed without stressing other bit cells of the array.
US08593852B2	Test device and test method for resistive random access memory and resistive random access memory device According to the embodiments, a first write enable signal that changes with a constant period and a second write enable signal that changes at a time portion in which a limit time between activation/deactivation control of word lines and activation/deactivation control of bit lines is checked are input, a plurality of core control signals in which a time interval with which the core control signals change is locally shorter than a period of the first write enable signal based on the first write enable signal and the second write enable signal that are input is generated, and an operation verification of the resistive random access memory is performed by using the generated core control signals, whereby a cycle time in an arbitrary test cycle is locally and arbitrary adjusted.
US08593849B2	Memory device interface methods, apparatus, and systems Apparatus and systems for memory system are provided. In an example, a memory system can include a plurality of memory dice and an interface chip. The memory dice can include a first memory die including a memory array coupled to through wafer interconnects (TWIs) and a second memory die, wherein the first memory die is stacked over the second memory die. In an example, the interface chip can be coupled to the TWIs and configured to provide memory commands to selected memory addresses within the plurality of memory dice. In an example, the interface chip can be configured to perform DRAM sequencing.
US08593848B2	Programming method for programming flash memory array structure The invention provides a flash memory array structure and a method for programming the same, which relates to a technical field of nonvolatile memories in ultra large scale integrated circuit fabrication technology. The flash memory array of the present invention includes memory cells, word lines and bit lines connected to the memory cells, wherein the word lines connected to control gates of the memory cells and the bit lines connected to drain terminals of the memory cells are not perpendicular to each other but cross each other at an angle; the control gates of two memory cells adjacent to each other along the channel direction between every two bit lines are controlled by two word lines, respectively, drain terminals thereof are controlled by two bit lines, respectively, and source terminals thereof are shared. The present invention also provides a method for programming the flash memory array structure, which can realize a programming with low power consumption.
US08593844B2	Interconnection inverter device First and second capacitors are connected in series between positive/negative electrodes of a DC power source. A first terminal of a reactor and a first terminal of an electric power system are connected to the interconnection point between the first and second capacitors. A first switch section has first and second terminals respectively connected to the positive electrode of the DC power source and a second terminal of the reactor. A second switch section has first and second terminals respectively connected to the negative electrode of the DC power source and the second terminal of the reactor. A third switch section has first and second terminals respectively connected to the second terminal of the reactor and a second terminal of the electric power system. A fourth switch section has first and second terminals respectively connected to the second terminal of the reactor and the second terminal of the electric power system.
US08593841B2	Compensation circuit for constant current regulation of power supply and method thereof A compensation circuit and method for constant current regulation of switching mode power supply are disclosed. The ringing waveform of a feedback signal, indicative of the output current of the power supply, causes error. To eliminate the error, a current source charges a capacitor in response to a demagnetizing oscillation signal indicative of the error caused by the ringing waveform of the feedback signal. The voltage across the capacitor is compared to a reference signal to generate a more accurate signal indicative of the conductive time of a secondary diode in a secondary winding of the switching mode power supply. This more accurate signal is inputted to a logic circuit to generate a constant current control signal to control a power switch of the power supply.
US08593840B2	Boosting circuit and RFID tag including boosting circuit One object is to provide a boosting circuit whose boosting efficiency is enhanced. Another object is to provide an RFID tag including a boosting circuit whose boosting efficiency is enhanced. A node corresponding to an output terminal of a unit boosting circuit or a gate electrode of a transistor connected to the node is boosted by bootstrap operation, so that a decrease in potential which corresponds to substantially the same as the threshold potential of the transistor can be prevented and a decrease in output potential of the unit boosting circuit can be prevented.
US08593839B2	Accuracy of a volt-second clamp in an isolated DC-DC converter A novel system and methodology for providing a volt-second clamp. A DC/DC conversion system configured for producing an output voltage in response to an input voltage has a transformer with a primary winding responsive to the input voltage and a secondary winding for producing the output voltage. The conversion system has a power switch coupled to the primary winding of the transformer and controlled with a converter control signal, such as a PWM control signal. The power switch is further controlled by a comparator that compares an input value supplied to its input with a variable reference value so as to prevent magnetic flux density of the transformer from increasing to an undesired level. The input value of the comparator is produced by a comparator input circuit as a function of the input voltage and an on-time of the power switch. A reference circuit produces the reference value that varies as a function of the input voltage.
US08593837B2	Power supply device and method, based on power supply mode, for image forming apparatus Provided is a power supply device for an image forming apparatus, the power supply device including: a filter unit filtering alternating current (AC) power from an AC power source; and a converter generating a direct current (DC) power from the filtered AC power, wherein the filter unit includes: a capacitor connected to the AC power source; a discharge device connected to the capacitor and discharging electric charges accumulated in the capacitor; and a switching device switching connection between the capacitor and the discharge device according to a power supply mode of the power supply device.
US08593836B2	Power converter using soft switching method for zero current switching at turn on and zero voltage switching at turn off A power converter includes a main switch to which a capacitor is connected through a sub-diode. A series connection of a primary coil of a transformer and a sub-switch is connected parallel to the capacitor. A main diode is coupled in series with the main switch. A series connection of a sub-diode and a secondary coil of the transformer is parallel to the main diode. The rate of a rise in voltage across the main switch when turned off is suppressed by the rate of charging of the capacitor. Subsequently, by turning on the sub-switch, the current flowing through the main diode to be delivered to the transformer, thereby causing the current flowing through the main switch when turned on to be decreased by the sub-inductor.
US08593834B2	DC converter with independently controlled outputs A controller for use in a power supply includes a clock coupled to output a clock signal. The clock signal determines a frequency. A modulator is coupled to receive the clock signal. The clock signal is divided into N cycles within the power supply. N is an integer greater than one. The modulator is coupled to receive N feedback signals from N output circuits during each respective one of the N cycles to control conduction times of a primary switch during each respective one of the N cycles to regulate N outputs of a power supply. Each of the N feedback signals is representative of a respective one of N output voltages of a respective to one of the N outputs of the power supply.
US08593831B2	Method for controlling a series resonant DC/DC converter The invention relates to a method for controlling a series resonant DC/DC converter. The method comprises the steps of: defining a switching period TP having a first half period TA and a second half period TB and defining a subsequent switching period TP+1 after the switching period TP. In a next step, a first set (S1sc1; S1sc1, S4sc1) of switches of a first switching circuit (SC1) is controlled to be ON from the beginning Tstart of the first half period TA minus a time interval ΔTAE1, where the time interval ΔTAE1 is provided at the end of the first half period TA and a second set (S2sc1; S2sc1, S3sc1) of switches of the first switching circuit (SC1) is controlled to be ON from the beginning Tcenter of the second half period TB minus a time interval ΔTBE1, where the time interval ΔTBE1 is provided at the end of the second half period TB. A first set (S1sc2; S1sc2, S4sc2) of switches of a second switching circuit (SC2) is controlled to be ON in the first half period TA minus a time interval ΔTAS1 and minus a time interval ΔTAE2, where the time interval ΔTAS1 is provided at the beginning of the first half period TA and where the time interval ΔTAE2 is provided at the end of the first half period TA and a second set (S2sc2; S2sc2, S3sc2) of switches of the second switching circuit (SC2) is controlled to be ON in the second half period TB minus time interval ΔTBS1 and minus time interval ΔTBE2, where the time interval ΔTBS1 is provided at the beginning of the second half period TB and where the time interval ΔTBE2 is provided in the end of the second half period TB. Time intervals Tsc1off1 and Tsc2off1, and time intervals Tsc1off2 and Tsc2off2, where the sets of the first and second switching circuits all are off, are at least partially overlapping.
US08593826B2	Memory module, memory system having the memory module, and method for manufacturing the memory module Provided is a memory module, a system using the memory module, and a method of fabricating the memory module. The memory module may include a printed circuit board and a memory package on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may include an embedded optical waveguide and a first optical window extending from the optical waveguide to a first surface of the printed circuit board. The memory package may also include a memory die having an optical input/output section and a second optical window. The optical input/output section, the second optical window, and the first optical window may be arranged in a line and the first optical window and the second optical window may be configured to at least one of transmit an optical signal from the optical waveguide to the optical input/output section and transmit an optical signal from the optical input/output section to the optical waveguide.
US08593824B2	Tamper secure circuitry especially for point of sale terminal Tamper secure circuitry including a first printed circuit board having mounted thereon circuit components and a slotted anti-tamper grid containing printed circuit board mounted onto the first printed circuit board defining at least one slot and arranged to overlie at least some of the circuit components, which are located in a volume defined by the at least one slot and the first printed circuit board.
US08593823B2	Suspension board with circuit A suspension board with circuit includes a conductive pattern. The conductive pattern includes a first terminal provided on the front face of the suspension board with circuit and electrically connected with a magnetic head; and a second terminal provided on the back face of the suspension board with circuit and electrically connected with an electronic device.
US08593822B2	Electronic apparatus provided with a detachable electrical component The present invention improves the operability when opening and closing a cover. Since the cover is curved such that the front face is in a concave form, when opening a memory slot, part of the cover is lifted from a first casing by simply removing a screw from the first casing and the cover. The cover can be detached from the first casing by holding the lifted portion of the cover, and, thus, the memory slot can be opened easily without using the weight of the cover. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the operability when attaching a memory module to the memory slot or when detaching a memory module from the memory slot.
US08593821B2	Lightweight audio system for automotive applications and method A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture is bifurcated into a first board carrying common circuit components in a surface mount configuration suitable for high volume production, and a second board carrying application specific circuit components in a wave soldered stick mount configuration. The major components and subassemblies are self-fixturing during the final assembly process, eliminating the need for dedicated tools, fixtures and assembly equipment. The major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The radio architecture includes improved push buttons employing 4-bar living hinge linkage and front loaded decorative trim buttons.
US08593814B2	Heat sink assembly A heat sink includes a contact portion, a first support rib, a second support rib, a third support rib and a fourth support rib radially extended from the contact portion, and a plurality of parallel fins radially extended from the first support rib, the second support rib, the third support rib and the fourth support rib between two adjacent support ribs. The contact portion contacts with a first heat source. A distance from the contact portion to an edge of the plurality of parallel fins between the first support rib and the second support rib is a first distance. A distance from the contact portion to an edge of the plurality of parallel fins between the third support rib and the fourth support rib is a second distance. The first distance is less than the second distance.
US08593813B2	Low profile heat dissipating system with freely-oriented heat pipe A heat dissipating system adapted to dissipate heat generated from an IC package mounted onto a socket connector, comprises a heat dissipating device comprising a heat spreader embedded with at least one heat pipe and a supporting plate flexibly seated upon an upper face of the heat spreader, and a clip located upon the heat dissipating device for pressing the heat dissipating device downward toward the socket connector.
US08593812B2	Heat exchanger, semiconductor device, method for manufacturing the heat exchanger, and method for manufacturing the semiconductor device Disclosed is a heat exchanger wherein warping (bending) of an intervening member and a frame is suppressed when the intervening member and a wall portion of the frame member having different linear expansion coefficients are welded with each other. A method for manufacturing the heat exchanger, a semiconductor device wherein warping (bending) of an intervening member and a frame is suppressed, and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are also disclosed. Specifically disclosed is a heat exchanger wherein a fin member provided with a plurality of fins forming flow channels for a refrigerant is arranged within a frame which forms the outer casing. The frame has a first frame member (a first wall portion) to which insulating plates (intervening members) interposed between the frame and heat-generating bodies (semiconductor elements are welded. The insulating plates (intervening members) have a linear expansion coefficient different from that of the frame. The first frame member is provided with elastically deformable projections (elastically deformable portions) along an arrangement surface of the outer surface on which the insulating plates (intervening members) are arranged.
US08593811B2	Method and structure for optimizing heat exchanger performance A heat exchanger structure including multiple fluid circuits, through which respective streams of a first fluid pass from a stream inlet to a stream outlet to transfer heat to or from a second medium. The fluid circuits are arranged into at least a first group and a second group, at least the first group consisting essentially of only fluid circuits that perform substantially similarly according to at least one selected performance criterion. A control sensor for at least the first group generates a signal representative of a parameter of the first fluid in the associated group. A valve for at least the first group is in fluid communication with of all the streams of the associated group so as to be able to control the flow of fluid through the streams of the associated group in parallel.
US08593807B2	Electronic equipment having open/close lock mechanism The rotation direction of a lock member is substantially the same as the rotation direction of a second housing when the second housing is rotated from a closed position to an opened position. Thus, when the second housing is in a closed state, a user presses a base in a direction indicated by an arrow D with a finger of a hand, engages the finger with an inner surface of a concave, and displaces the hand in a direction indicated by an arrow B, thereby performing lock cancel of the lock member and a rotation operation of the second housing continuously.
US08593806B2	Heat dissipation system A heat dissipation system includes an enclosure, and a mainframe module enclosed in the enclosure. The mainframe module includes a baseboard with a motherboard and a mass storage device attached to the baseboard, a first cooling fan mounted on a top surface of the motherboard, and an air guiding panel attached on the baseboard surrounding the mass storage device. The air guiding panel guides cool air to the mass storage device along a first direction and out of the mainframe module by the first cooling fan in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US08593803B2	Mounting apparatus for data storage device A mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device, includes a drive bracket and a slider mounted on the data storage device. The drive bracket includes a side piece in which a sliding groove is located. The sliding groove includes a first end and a second end. The second end is adjacent to an edge of the side piece. The first end is located on the side piece. A guiding surface is located at the first end. The guiding surface inclines from an inner surface of the side piece to an outer surface of the side piece. The slider slides in the sliding groove from the second end to the first end. The slider abuts the guiding surface. The guiding surface retains the slider at the first end.
US08593802B1	Tri-holder/organizer system A plurality of stations is positionable on the top of a stereo radio/alarm clock. The stations include end stations and a central station between the end stations. Each station has a downwardly extending recess to removably receive and support a smaller consumer electronic music device. Each station has a support plate extending upwardly from an associated recess. The end recesses are laterally aligned with their associated support plates in a forward plane. The central recess is rearwardly spaced from the end recesses with its associated support plate in a rearward plane. The arrangement of the support plates allows the support plates to removably receive and support a larger consumer electronic music device.
US08593800B2	Electronic equipment with hinge mechanism In the electronic equipment of the present application, a center axis of a cylindrical portion 11a of a shaft 11 is eccentric with respect to a rotation center axis of the shaft 11, whereby even when a cable 21 comes closest to the shaft 11 in the turning of a first housing 1 or second housing 2, a sufficient space can be secured between the shaft 11 and the cable 21. Thus, in a turning range of the first housing 1 or second housing 2, it is highly unlikely that the shaft 11 and the cable 21 come into contact with each other, which avoids an increase in a tension of the cable 21 and wear on an insulation cover of the cable 21. By avoiding the increase in the tension of the cable 21, breakage of the electric wires in the cable 21 can be avoided.
US08593794B2	Hinge assembly for foldable electronic device A hinge assembly includes a shaft, a seat made of plastic, a follower, a cam, a latching member, a resilient member, and a sleeve. The follower includes a cam surface. The seat is fixed to the follower, and the seat and the follower are placed around the shaft. The cam has a latching cam surface, the cam surface is engaged with the cam latching surface. The latching member is fixed to the cam, and the cam and the latching member are placed around the shaft. An outer diameter of the cam is smaller than the latching member. The resilient member is placed around the shaft and provides an elastic force to make the cam surface abut against the latching cam surface. The sleeve receives the cam, the latching member, and the resilient member, and the latching member engages with the sleeve.
US08593792B2	Utility pit meter AMR device with multiple mounting provisions An automatic meter reading (AMR) system device is adapted to be mounted in a utility meter pit. The device includes a housing constructed to at least partially enclose at least one portion of an AMR system device. The housing is integrally formed with at least two different mounting members selected from among: a rod mounting member that includes a port sized and shaped to receive a rod to facilitate mounting of the device in the pit, a wall mounting member that includes a wall-mount provision that facilitates mounting of the device to a wall of the pit, a tie mounting member constructed to receive at least one tie fastener that facilitates mounting of the device to a structure in the pit, and a lid mounting portion constructed to facilitate mounting of the device to a lid of the pit.
US08593789B2	Device for distributing high-voltage power for vehicle Provided is a device for distributing high-voltage power for a vehicle which supplies the main power of the vehicle to the electronic devices mounted in the vehicle. More specifically, a power distribution unit includes a plurality of first interlock connectors that connect distributed power to the electronic devices through cables, respectively. Furthermore, a switching unit including switching elements is disposed between the power distribution unit and the first interlock connectors and an interlock circuit unit that is connected with the first interlock connectors and the electronic devices and is separated before the cables are separated due to separation or breaking of the first interlock connectors. A switching control unit checks or determines which electronic devices connected with the interlock circuit unit are separated and controls the switching unit so that the distributed power is not supplied to just those effected electronic devices which have been determined to be separated.
US08593788B2	Supercapacitors with block copolymer electrolytes An electrode for a supercapacitor includes a block copolymer and active material particles. The block copolymer is used both to bind the particles together and to act as an electrolyte. The electrode does not have a porous structure, but rather it is pressed or rolled to achieve zero porosity and to ensure good contact between the particles and the block copolymer electrolyte. Thus, the entire surface of the active particles can be accessed for charge storage. Furthermore, the volume of such an electrode is smaller than typical electrodes with the same capacity, as none of the volume is wasted with additional, non-active binder material, offering a higher effective active material loading per unit volume. Electrodes made in this way, with block copolymer electrolyte and active materials, can also form free-standing films that are easy to handle during manufacture of supercapacitors.
US08593786B2	Electrical multilayer component and circuit arrangement An electrical multilayer component has a monolithic main body that includes a number of alternating ceramic layers disposed one above the other and at least one electrode layer. The main body has two end faces opposite each other and two lateral faces opposite each other. The component also includes a number of outer electrodes and at least three inner electrodes. Each of the inner electrodes is associated with one outer electrode. A first inner electrode protruding from an end face and a second inner electrode protruding from an opposite end face have a first distance to each other. A third inner electrode protrudes from a side face.
US08593784B2	Thin film structure that may be used with an adhesion layer A conductive structure, including an adhesion layer and a conductor in contact with the adhesion layer and having a thickness of less than six hundred Angstroms. The present invention may be used to form a capacitor, including an adhesion layer, a first conductor in contact with the adhesion layer and having a thickness of less than six hundred Angstroms, a second conductor, and a dielectric between the first and second conductors. The present invention is also directed towards structures wherein iridium or rhodium may be used in place of the combination of the adhesion layer and conductor.
US08593782B1	Clad fiber capacitor and method of making same A clad capacitor and method of manufacture includes assembling a preform comprising a ductile, electrically conductive fiber; a ductile, electrically insulating cladding positioned on the fiber; and a ductile, electrically conductive sleeve positioned over the cladding. One or more preforms are then bundled, heated and drawn along a longitudinal axis to decrease the diameter of the ductile components of the preform and fuse the preform into a unitized strand.
US08593781B2	Metalized film capacitor Disclosed is a metalized film capacitor having excellent safety preservation ability and an excellent withstand voltage at high temperatures. This capacitor has a structure for which a split electrode section wherein a split electrode is formed by spliting a metalized film along the longitudinal direction by means of plural insulating slits, and a non-split electrode section for which a vapor-deposited electrode is continuous in the longitudinal direction, are arranged alternately in the film width direction of the metalized film, with each split electrode being connected to the non-split electrode section by a fuse formed between the ends of adjacent insulating slits; and has a structure for which three rows or more of split electrode sections, which are split by means of insulating slits that are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the film, are arranged in the width direction, with each split electrode that forms a split electrode section being connected to an adjacent split electrode by a fuse, and the area of a split electrode in the center of the film being smaller than the area of a split electrode arranged on the outer side.
US08593778B2	Apparatus for removal of surface oxides via fluxless technique involving electron attachment and remote ion generation The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the dry fluxing of at least one component and/or solder surface via electron attachment. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for removing oxides from the surface of a component comprising: providing a component on a substrate wherein the substrate is grounded or has a positive electrical potential to form a target assembly; passing a gas mixture comprising a reducing gas through an ion generator comprising a first and a second electrode; supplying an amount of voltage to at least one of the first and second electrodes sufficient to generate electrons wherein the electrons attach to at least a portion of the reducing gas and form a negatively charged reducing gas; and contacting the target assembly with the negatively charged reducing gas to reduce the oxides on the component.
US08593776B2	Voltage surge and overvoltage protection using prestored voltage-time profiles Disclosed are various embodiments of voltage protectors that include a first voltage clamping device configured to clamp a voltage of an input power applied to an electrical load, and a second voltage clamping device configured to clamp the voltage applied to the electrical load. A series inductance separates the first and second voltage clamping devices. Also, a switching element is employed to selectively establish a direct coupling of the input power to the electrical load, where a circuit is employed to control the operation of the switching element.
US08593768B2	Apparatus and method for disabling the operation of high power devices A drive circuit for delivering high-level power to a load, and method of stopping a high power load from operating, are disclosed. The drive circuit includes a high power circuit capable of being coupled to the load and delivering the high level power thereto, and a low power circuit that controls the high power circuit. The low power circuit includes a first circuit portion that provides at least one control signal that is at least indirectly communicated to the high power circuit and that controls the delivering of the high level power by the high power circuit, and a second circuit portions coupled to the first circuit portion. The second circuit portion is capable of disabling the first circuit portion so that the at least one control signal avoids taking on values that would result in the high power circuit delivering the high level power to the load.
US08593767B2	Power supply and the control method for controlling the same and power supply system incorporating such power supplies Disclosed is a power supply and a power supply system using such power supply. The inventive power supply includes a power converter for converting an input voltage into an intermediate output voltage, an output protection circuit connected to an output terminal of the power converter and an output terminal of the power supply for protecting the power converter by its ON/OFF operations, and a control unit connected to the output protection circuit for controlling the output protection circuit. When an operating frequency of the power converter is higher than a first reference frequency and the intermediate output voltage is higher than a first reference voltage, the control unit outputs a first control signal to a control terminal of the output protection circuit to turn off the output protection circuit.
US08593762B1	Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording capable of producing a write magnetic field of sufficient magnitude from the main pole while reducing the length of a magnetic path that connects the write shield and the main pole A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield, first and second yoke layers, and first and second coupling parts. The first yoke layer is located on the trailing side relative to the main pole whereas the second yoke layer is located on the leading side relative to the main pole. The first coupling part couples the main pole and the first yoke layer to each other. The second coupling part couples the first yoke layer and the second yoke layer to each other. The first coupling part includes a plurality of first magnetic path portions, and the second coupling part includes a plurality of second magnetic path portions. The coil includes one winding portion extending to pass around the first and second magnetic path portions alternately in a zigzag manner.
US08593754B2	Magnetic tape driving apparatus having a head displacing portion A magnetic tape driving apparatus, which does not cause damage to either a magnetic head or a magnetic tape when making transition of the magnetic tape from a stopped state to a running state, when making transition of the magnetic tape from a running state to a stopped state, or when reversing the transportation direction of the magnetic tape, is provided. In a state where any one of a magnetic head and a magnetic tape moves and the other rests (i.e., a state where static friction may occur), such as at the time of starting transportation of the magnetic tape, at the time of stopping the tape in a running state, and at the time of reversing the transportation direction of the magnetic tape, a head displacing portion vibrates the magnetic head under the control by a displacement control portion, and thus no static friction occurs between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape. Therefore, the risk of causing damage to the magnetic head (such as an MR head unit equipped with an MR element) or the magnetic tape can be reduced.
US08593753B1	Touchdown detection Systems and methods for detecting touchdown of a head on a disk are provided. In one embodiment, a disk drive comprises a thermal sensor configured to sense a temperature of a head and to generate a thermal signal based on the sensed temperature. The disk drive also comprises touchdown circuit configured to receive the thermal signal, to increment a count value each time the thermal signal exceeds a thermal threshold, and to output a fault signal when the count value is equal to or exceeds a count threshold.
US08593751B2	Patterned magnetic recording disk for multi-track recording with compensation for head skew The invention is a patterned-media disks for multi-track recording that are fabricated by nanoimprinting from a master template and that have data islands arranged in a pattern to compensate for head skew. The islands are arranged along lines canted relative to a disk radial line by an acute angle, as required for multi-track recording. However, this angle is not the same for all bands, but varies from band to band to compensate for head skew. The angle the lines in a band are canted is reduced by the amount of head skew. There are a plurality of bands between the disk inside-diameter (ID) and mid-diameter (MD) where the angle is in one direction from a radial line and a plurality of bands between the disk MD and outside-diameter (OD) where the angle is in the opposite direction from a radial line.
US08593750B2	Magnetic storage medium, information storage device, and control device According to one embodiment, a magnetic storage medium, includes a magnetic recording layer that includes: a servo area including predetermined servo information; a user data area including predetermined user information; two preamble areas including a plurality of magnetic bodies made of magnetic particles, the magnetic bodies being arranged in a staggered pattern so that the staggered pattern is inverted with respect to an axis of symmetry at a track center; and a re-sync mark area positioned at a head of the preamble areas and indicates a start of the preamble areas.
US08593748B1	Shingled magnetic recording disk drive with compensation for the effect of far track erasure (FTE) on adjacent data bands A shingled magnetic recording (SMR) disk drive has concentric shingled data tracks having data sectors with physical block addresses (PBAs), with the tracks being arranged in annular bands separated by annular inter-band gaps. The disk drive also has an on-disk extended cache region and may have writable inter-band cache (IBC) tracks in the inter-band gaps. A count is maintained in memory for each band and each IBC, and the count is incremented for each writing to a band or an IBC. When a count for a band or IBC reaches a predetermined threshold, the data is read from the tracks in the boundary region of the adjacent band that are within the range of the FTE and that data is then written to the extended cache. The FTE-affected tracks are then invalidated, meaning that PBAs can no longer be assigned to the data sectors in those tracks.
US08593746B2	Image display device An image display device capable of maintaining continuity of images of adjacent image display elements on a display screen that is composed of a plurality of image display element includes image display elements (1, 2) and a prism (3). The prism (3) is an L-shaped prism having two planar surfaces, and image display elements (1, 2) are arranged on the portion of the prism that corresponds to the rear side as seen from the viewing direction (9). Image display elements (1, 2) are arranged such that the virtual images (5, 6) of the image display portions of each are optically continuously connected in the prism (3).
US08593745B2	Lenses for communication devices Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a lens component having one or more lenses attached to a retainer portion configured to removably attach to communication devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, media players, and the like. The retainer portion may be configured so as not to interfere with a user's view of a display panel of the communication device. In some embodiments, a plurality of lenses may be provided, and the lenses may be removably attached to the retainer portion and may be interchangeable. A structure for providing a flash may also be provided. In some embodiments, additional features may be provided, such as attachment components to facilitate attachment to stability devices, such as tripods, and to user-wearable accessories.
US08593744B2	Optical device and manufacturing method therefor An optical device may include a movable body holding a lens, a fixed body movably holding the movable body, a drive magnet and a drive coil for relatively moving the movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a metal member fixed to the drive magnet. The drive magnet is fixed to one of the movable body and the fixed body and the drive coil is fixed to the other of the movable body and the fixed body. A nickel plating layer containing at least nickel is formed on a surface of the drive magnet and a surface of the metal member, and the drive magnet and the metal member are joined to each other by a joining layer which is made of tin-based metal containing at least tin and is disposed between the drive magnet and the metal member.
US08593742B2	Screw-mount lens barrel A screw-mount lens barrel includes a screw mount cylinder which is screw-engaged with a screw mount of a camera body, a shift ring which is rotatably supported by the screw mount cylinder to be coaxial therewith, a lens barrel body which supports an optical system and is adjustable relative to the shift ring in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis, and a shift adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position of the lens barrel body relative to the shift ring in directions orthogonal to the optical axis.
US08593741B2	Optical system and image pickup apparatus using the same An optical system includes a positive lens unit, wherein the positive lens unit includes an optical element containing a base material and minute particles that are mixed with the base material and have Abbe number that is lower than that of the base material, and the minute particles are higher in density at a peripheral portion of the optical element than on an optical axis of the optical element.
US08593736B2	Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power which does not move for varying magnification; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power which moves for varying magnification; a third lens unit having a positive refractive power which moves for varying magnification; and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power which does not move for varying magnification, in which: the first lens unit includes a first sub lens unit which does not move for focusing and a second sub lens unit having a positive refractive power which moves for focusing; the first sub lens unit includes three lenses having negative, positive, and positive refractive powers; and each of the elements is appropriately set.
US08593732B1	Partially metallized total internal reflection immersion grating A diffraction grating comprises a substrate with a set of protruding ridges and intervening trenches characterized by a ridge spacing Λ, width d, and height h. The substrate comprises a dielectric or semiconductor material with a refractive index n1; the first substrate surface faces an optical medium with a refractive index n2 that is less than n1. Each ridge has a metal layer on its top surface of thickness t; at least a portion of the bottom surface of each trench is substantially free of metal. Over an operational wavelength range, λ/2n1<Λ<λ/(n1+n2) can be satisfied. An optical signal can be incident on the diffractive elements from within the substrate at an incidence angle that exceeds the critical angle. The parameters n1, n2, Λ, d, h, and t can be selected to yield desired polarization dependence or independence of the diffraction efficiency.
US08593731B2	Three dimensional image alignment In an embodiment, two retro-focus lens systems are configured to provide a stereoscopic image. In an embodiment, each retro-focus lens system has a low power negative lens group with a long focal length. In an embodiment, each retro focus lens system has an optical component mounted with three points. One optical component is associated with a first of the two retro-focus lenses. The three points may be loosened, such that the optical component may be adjusted in a first direction, which in turn moves the corresponding image in the opposite direction. Another optical component is associated with the other retro focus lens system. The other optical component has a second set of points that may be loosened such that the other optical component may be adjusted in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, moving the corresponding image in the opposite direction from the second direction.
US08593730B2	Stage control device, stage control method and microscope A stage control device including a position detection portion which detects a position deviation of a support plate relative to a reference position regulated by a convex portion provided in a stage, from an image of a scope including the support plate on which a sample is disposed and which is mounted on the stage; and a stage control portion that presses the stage, which is moved and controlled in a surface direction of the support plate so that the sample is in an imaging scope of an imaging element, from a position of a detection point in time in a direction corresponding to a position deviation at a pressing speed, and returns the stage up to a position of the detection point in time at a return speed slower than the pressing speed, when the position deviation of the support plate relative to the reference position is detected.
US08593726B2	Methods and apparatus for producing short optical pulses Apparatus for producing short optical pulses comprising an oscillator for producing optical pulses at a first optical pulse frequency, the optical pulses having a first wavelength; first and second optical amplifiers; a pulse picker, located between the first and second optical fiber amplifiers, the pulse picker operable to reduce the optical pulse frequency of optical pulses, the amplifier amplifying optical pulses at the first optical pulse frequency and the second amplifier amplifying optical pulses at a reduced optical pulse frequency that is less than said first optical pulse frequency; and a nonlinear optical fiber receiving amplified optical pulses at the reduced optical pulse frequency and having the first wavelength to nonlinearly produce, at the reduced optical pulse frequency, optical pulses that include a wavelength that is different than the first wavelength.
US08593725B2	Pulsed optical source The invention relates to pulsed optical sources formed of a source of seed optical radiation, a pulsed optical amplifier for pulsing the seed optical radiation, and an output optical port for outputting a pulsed optical signal produced by the pulsed optical amplifier. An optically isolating element such as an optical circulator is provided in the optical path between the optical seed source and the pulsed optical amplifier.
US08593722B2	Systems and methods for providing temperature stability of acousto-optic beam deflectors and acousto-optic modulators during use The invention provides a method of laser processing that includes the steps of: generating a sequence of RF pulses corresponding to a sequence of laser pulses having a laser pulse repetition rate, the RF pulses including transmitting RF pulses at transmitting RF frequencies and non-transmitting RF pulses at non-transmitting RF frequencies for causing the sequence of laser pulses to be deflected in respective transmitting and non-transmitting directions, each RF pulse comprising an RF frequency, an RF amplitude and a duration; controlling each RF pulse such that the sequence of RF pulses provides a modulated RF drive signal that is modulated to provide a balanced thermal loading on the acousto-optic deflector; applying the modulated RF drive signal to the acousto-optic deflector; and deflecting at least one laser pulse with the acousto-optic deflector using the modulated RF drive signal to irradiate a selected target position with a predetermined pulse energy.
US08593720B2	Electronic paper and method for producing same Provided is an electronic paper that permits a high-quality, large area to be easily created. Also provided is a method for producing the electronic paper. The electronic paper comprises: a first substrate upon which first electrodes are formed and a second substrate upon which second electrodes are formed, said first substrate and second substrate disposed so as to face each other; and a plurality of cell spaces constituting pixels between said first substrate and second substrate. The first substrate comprises a plurality of first sheet members, each having a first electrode formed thereon. By disposing a cover substrate on said first sheet members, each with a partition wall therebetween, a plurality of subsheet formations comprising the plurality of cell spaces partitioned by the partition walls are formed, and the first electrodes are connected in between adjacent subsheet formations.
US08593719B2	Particles for electrophoretic displays This invention relates to colored polymer particles preferably with surface functionality for charge retention, a process for their preparation, the use of these particles for the preparation of an electrophoretic device, color electrophoretic displays comprising such particle, and new water-soluble dyes.
US08593714B2	Composite electrode and electrolytes comprising nanoparticles and resulting devices This invention discloses novel electrochromic devices and polymer actuator materials where nanoparticles are used to make composites. In particular, the said nanoparticles are wire shaped and disc shaped. These composites allow EC devices to be made with improved performance, particularly display devices could be made that consume low power and can be manufactured at low cost.
US08593710B2	Holographic projection device for the reconstruction of scenes A holographic projection device comprises for the reconstruction of scenes at least one light source which emits sufficiently coherent light for the generation of a wave front. Further, the projection device comprises at least one light modulator device containing modulation element, said projection device being of a two-dimensional design. The light modulator device and a scanning element are combined such that the light emitted by the scanning element only scans one one-dimensional arrangement of modulation elements of the two-dimensional light modulator device at a time.
US08593707B2	Image reading apparatus, image data output processing apparatus, and image reading method performing color correction based on UV and visible light Image data Rin, Gin, Bin are read out from an image on a document, on reception of light reflected by the image after being emitted from a first light source for irradiating the document with visible light. Image data RUV, GUV, BUV are read out from the image on the document, on reception of light reflected by the image after being emitted from a second light source for irradiating the document with ultraviolet light. A color correction process is performed by reading out color corrected imaged data from a color correction table which stores in advance color corrected image data, which are associated with a combination of (i) image data, which correspond to the image data Rin, Gin, Bin, and image data which correspond to the image data RUV, GUV, BUV. By this, it is possible that even in a case where an image on the document contains a fluorescent image, the fluorescent image be easily and accurately reproduced.
US08593704B2	Erecting equal-magnification lens array plate, optical scanning unit, image reading device, and image writing device An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate comprises first and second lens array plates stacked on one another, a fourth surface light-shielding wall, and an intermediate light-shielding wall. An intermediate through hole formed in the intermediate light-shielding wall is formed such that the hole diameter is progressively smaller in a tapered fashion away from the first lens array plate toward the second lens array plate. An angle of inclination θ of an interior wall surface of the intermediate through hole with respect to a optical axis is given by θ≧tan−1(D4/(Gap+L2+H4))/2 where Gap denotes a gap between the lens array plates, L2 denotes a thickness of the second lens array plate, H4 denotes a height of the fourth surface light-shielding wall, and D4 denotes a diameter of the opening of the fourth surface through hole formed in the fourth surface light-shielding wall facing the image plane.
US08593703B2	Imaging head for a flat bed scanner A method for imaging using a flatbed imaging system includes providing first imaging data to a first imaging source; providing second imaging data to a second imaging source; imaging a first beam from the first imaging source at a first height on a rotating multi-facet spinner; imaging a second beam from the second imaging source at a second height on the rotating multi-facet spinner; distributing the first beam on a first location on a printing plate; and distributing the second beam on a second location on a the printing plate.
US08593701B2	Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus An oscillating mirror module as a deflecting unit is disposed so that a movable mirror faces a plane where image carriers are arranged. A plurality of light source units are disposed within a plane parallel to the plane where the image carriers are arranged so that main light fluxes of light beams emitted from the light sources form predetermined angles with each other. The oscillating mirror module includes an incidence mirror that bends a plurality of light beams emitted from the light source units to direct the light beams to the movable mirror, and a separation mirror that separates the light beams scanned by the movable mirror into two opposite directions with respect to a cross-section including a surface normal of the movable mirror and perpendicular to the rotation axis of the movable mirror. A light collecting unit collects light beams so that output optical axes of the light beams corresponding to the light source units intersect on a surface of the movable mirror of the deflecting unit.
US08593696B2	Document securization method and device printing a distribution of dots on said document The document securization method includes: a step of printing a distribution of dots on the document, the printing, as a result of unanticipated unknowns in printing, causing an unpredictable variation, dot by dot, of at least one geometric characteristic of the printed dots and prior to the print step, a step of generating the distribution of dots so that dots of the distribution have at least one geometric characteristic that varies among dots, the geometric amplitude of the generated variation having the order of magnitude of the unpredictable variation. Preferably during the generation step, in the dot distribution: at least half the dots of the distribution are not laterally juxtaposed to four other dots of the dot distribution, and at least one dimension of at least one part of the dots of the dot distribution is of the same order of magnitude as the average for the absolute value of the unpredictable variation.
US08593695B2	Image processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable recording medium An image processing apparatus including: a first storage portion that stores patterns used for matching with edge portions of a linear image included in an input image, the patterns having respective different sizes, and each of the patterns being composed of pixels and including a target pixel corresponding to a pixel to be deleted in the linear image; a selection portion that selects a pattern having a size according to a line width of a line thinning process to the linear image, from the stored patterns; a pattern detection portion that matches the selected pattern with the linear image while shifting the selected pattern, and detects whether the selected pattern is matched with the linear image; and a deletion portion that, when the matching result is detected, deletes the pixel in the linear image corresponding to the target pixel in the selected pattern.
US08593690B2	Method for making overprint predictions To improve a method for making an overprint prediction to that extent, that the method allows more reliable overprint predictions with a reduced effort, the invention proposes a method for making the overprint prediction for a color combination, in which method a printing substrate and at least two printing colors and one gradation of hue values per printing color including the full tone as well as color combinations are predefined as data of the hue value of the n printing colors, wherein first of all individual color predictions comprising three transmittance components and the associated transmittance spectra for the respective hue value are determined for each of the n printing colors, wherein for an intended color combination up to (3 to the power of n) combinations of the transmittance components and the associated combined transmittance spectra are determined, and an overall reflectance spectrum of an overprint is predicted on the basis of the determined transmittance components with their transmittance spectra and the reflectance spectrum of the unprinted substrate.
US08593689B2	Systems and methods for specifying color tolerance intent and implementation as part of a digital print workflow Systems and methods are provided for enabling submission of color accuracy requirements with the submission of a print job. More specifically, a print job analysis system may be configured to receive a print job request having a color accuracy requirement level directly from a customer (or from an operator on behalf of the customer). In addition, the print job analysis system may also be configured to determine an appropriate color accuracy requirement level for the print job request if no color accuracy requirement level is directly provided with the print job request. Furthermore, the print job analysis system may also be configured to provide an analysis of recommended color accuracy requirement levels to the customer and/or the operator if they are unsure of an appropriate color accuracy requirement level to be used for the particular print job.
US08593688B2	Method for enhancing security printing A method for enhancing security printing includes determining fields associated with print job variability. Physical security information is entered, and a physical security data stream is generated from the physical security information. The physical security data stream is mapped to a data stream that is used to provide settings for the fields for the print job variability. The fields for the print job variability are set based upon the mapping the physical security data stream.
US08593682B2	Color conversion system and color conversion processing method For color conversion of image data in a Lab* color space, a color conversion system includes a color conversion processor to implement a first color conversion for color conversion of data positions of an image data in a reference-color representing first region covering a constant hue line at a prescribed hue angle on an ab plane, and a second color conversion for color conversion of data positions of the image data in a second region set outside the first region within an angular range smaller in hue angle than the prescribed hue angle on the ab plane, the prescribed hue angle being set up in an angular region of 0 degree or more and 90 degree or less relative to an a* axis, the color conversion processor being adapted to implement mutually different color conversion processes for the first color conversion and the second color conversion.
US08593679B2	Position-based image scanning, processing and storage A scanning apparatus which scans a document, includes: a scanning section which includes a scanning area and which scans the document in the scanning area; a control device which includes a position information capturing section which captures a position information indicating a position of the document on the scanning area when the document is scanned by the scanning section and a processing section which performs a plurality of processes with respect to an image data of the document scanned by the scanning section based on the position information captured by the position information capturing section.
US08593678B2	Information processing system, method and recording medium An image forming apparatus that functions as a client of a distributed file system is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes: a distributed file system process part for mounting a file system of a server apparatus on the image forming apparatus to enable the image forming apparatus to access the file system of the server apparatus as the distributed file system of the image forming apparatus; and a storing process part for accessing the file system of the server apparatus and storing, in the file system, information that is stored in a storage unit used by the image forming apparatus.
US08593677B2	Mobile printing system using a device management server A mobile printing system includes a cloud server apparatus, a mobile terminal device, a device management server apparatus, a print-control device, and an image forming apparatus. The cloud server apparatus stores a document data file. The mobile terminal device includes a wireless communication interface, and a short-range communication interface of which the maximum communicable distance is shorter than that of the wireless communication interface, and transmits the document data file with its device ID to the cloud server apparatus. The device management server apparatus receives the document data file in association with the device ID, and converts the document data file to print data and stores it. The print-control device detects the mobile terminal device using a short-range communication interface, and receives its device ID, and receives the print data from the document management server apparatus, and transmits the print data to the image forming apparatus for printing.
US08593675B2	Scan back control of stacked received faxes A method of selectively printing facsimiles on an image forming apparatus, the method includes the steps of: receiving incoming facsimiles on the image forming apparatus, each of the incoming facsimiles having one or more pages; printing at least one page of each of the incoming facsimiles; storing an entirety of each of the incoming facsimiles in a memory of the image forming apparatus; selectively printing incoming facsimiles by scanning the at least one page on the image forming apparatus to retrieve the entirety of a selected incoming facsimile from the memory of the image forming apparatus; and printing the entirety of the selected incoming facsimile.
US08593674B2	Method and apparatus for estimating file size before transmission of image data An image processing apparatus stores a plurality of conversion conditions for converting input image data and, if the image data is converted according to each conversion condition, information indicating a relationship between a data size of the image data before conversion and a data size of transmission data that is acquired after conversion by associating the conversion conditions and the information with each other; sets the conversion condition for converting the input image data according to an instruction from a user, estimates the data size of the transmission data that is acquired if the input image data is converted according to the set conversion condition, using the stored information; and issues a notification to the user based on a result of the estimation.
US08593673B2	Systems and methods for routing a facsimile confirmation based on content A method for routing a confirmation of receipt of a facsimile or portion thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention includes analyzing text of a facsimile for at least one of a meaning and a context of the text; and routing one or more confirmations to one or more destinations based on the analysis. A method for routing one or more confirmations according to another embodiment of the present invention includes analyzing a pattern of light and dark areas of a facsimile; correlating the pattern to one or more forms; and routing one or more confirmations to one or more destinations based on the correlation. Additional systems and methods are also presented.
US08593659B2	System and method for third party authentication of web-based print-on-demand requests A system and program implement a process for allowing users of third party vendors to access print shop applications without separate authentication. The process includes the steps of creating a query-string having identification information of a third party vendor and authentication information of a user of the third party vendor. The query-string is created in response to the user's access to the third party vendor's web-site, and is contained in an inline frame and encrypted. Upon receiving the encrypted query-string sent from a third party vendor server to a print shop server, the query-string is decrypted. It is then determined whether the user has an existing account on the print shop server. If the user has an existing account, the user is automatically logged into the print shop server so that the user may access and use any print-on-demand applications on the print shop server without manually inputting user authentication information on the print shop server.
US08593655B2	Host apparatus and system finishing method thereof A system finishing method of a host apparatus communicating with an image forming apparatus for performing a printing operation, comprises: selecting system-finishing in an OS (operation system) of the host apparatus; confirming the presence or absence of a printing operation of the host apparatus; and if it is confirmed that there exists the printing operation of the host apparatus, displaying a finish selection message indicating an after-print system finish item.Thus, the present invention provides a host apparatus, which is capable of promoting user's convenience at the time of system-finishing of the host apparatus by providing a user with a finish selection message indicating that the host apparatus is automatically finished after a printing operation is completed, when the user selects the system-finishing of the host apparatus during the printing operation, and a system finishing method thereof.
US08593653B2	Print management method and apparatus with multiple views A method for managing a plurality of pint jobs is implemented in a print job management apparatus connected to printers. The method includes receiving print job, and visually presenting a display screen to a user, the display screen including first, second and third panels for classifying the received print jobs according to processing phase thereof, the first panel being provided for listing print jobs that are awaiting assignment of printers thereto for processing the print jobs, the second panel being provided for listing print jobs that have been assigned to printers and that have not been completed by the assigned printers, the third panel being provided for listing at least one of first and second categories of print jobs, the first category including print jobs that have been completed, the second category including print jobs that have been cancelled.
US08593648B2	Target method using indentifier element to obtain sphere radius A method is provided of obtaining the characteristics of a target by a device. The method includes providing the target having a target frame of reference, a retroreflector and a body. Providing a contact element rigidly fixed with respect to the body. A device is provided having a frame of reference and a light source, the device configured to measure a distance and two angles from the device to the retroreflector reference point. An identifier element located on the body. A workpiece surface is provided. The contact element contacts the workpiece surface. The retroreflector is illuminated with light from the light source and returns a reflected light. A distance and two angles are measured based at least in part on the reflected light. The first information is read with a first reader attached to the device. A three-dimensional coordinate of a point on the workpiece surface is calculated.
US08593647B2	Wide field of view optical tracking system An optical tracking system for determining the pose of a moving object in a reference coordinate system includes light emitters, optical detectors, and a pose processor. The processor is coupled with an optical detector and also with a light emitter. The processor determines the object's pose according to detected light. An optical detector and a light emitter are situated at a fixed position in the reference coordinate system. Other ones of the optical detectors and light emitters are attached to the object. One optical detector is a WFOV detector comprising an optical sensor and optical receptors. The receptors are spaced apart and optically coupled with the optical sensor. The sensor senses light received from a light emitter. Each receptor projects a different angular section of a scene on the sensor. The pose processor associates the representation on the sensor, with a respective receptor which projected the light on the sensor.
US08593645B2	Microlithographic projection exposure apparatus and related method A microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes an optical surface and a measurement device which measures a parameter related to the optical surface at a plurality of separated areas on the optical surface. The measurement device includes an illumination unit which directs individual measuring light beams towards the areas on the optical surface. Each measuring light beam illuminates at least a portion of an area, which is associated with the measuring light beam, and at least a portion of an adjacent area which is not associated with the measuring light beam. A detector unit measures a property for each measuring light beam after it has interacted with the optical surface.
US08593641B2	Apparatus and methods for uniform frequency sample clocking The invention provides systems and methods for producing an OCT image from a swept laser source. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve producing light from a swept laser source, splitting the light into a first and a second portion, in which the first portion is sent to an OCT interferometer to produce an OCT signal and the second portion is sent to a uniform frequency sample clock, processing the second portion into an external clock signal that is accepted by a digitizer, sending the OCT signal and the clock signal to the digitizer, and generating an OCT image from a combination of the OCT signal and the clock signal.
US08593639B2	System and method for optical coherence tomography with light or detector modulation The invention relates to a system and to a corresponding method for optical coherence tomography having an interferometer (10) for emitting light with which a specimen (1) is irradiated, the interferometer (10) comprising a beam splitter (13) and at least one reflector (12) the optical distance (I) of which from the beam splitter (13) can be changed by an optical path (L), and a detector (30) with a first number of detector elements arranged in a first area for collecting light which is reflected by the specimen (1).In order to be able to record images of a specimen, in particular in real time, more simply and quickly, the system is operated in a first mode in which light reflected by the specimen (1) is only collected by a second number of detector elements of the detector (30) and converted into corresponding detector signals, the second number of detector elements being smaller than the first number of detector elements.
US08593637B2	Spectrometric instrument A spectrometric instrument comprising: a scanning interferometer having a beamsplitter for dividing incident optical radiation into a reflected beam, following a reflected beam path and a transmitted beam following a transmitted beam path; a monochromatic optical radiation source for launching a reference beam into the interferometer along a first propagation path to be initially incident on a first face of the beamsplitter; an observation optical radiation source for launching a divergent observation beam into the interferometer along a second propagation path to be initially incident on the first face of beamsplitter and overlap the reference beam at the first face; wherein the radiation sources cooperate to generate a first angle between the directions of propagation of the two beams along respective first and second propagation paths when initially and simultaneously incident at the first face which is larger than a divergence half-angle of the observation beam 64.
US08593636B2	Pipe system, a fluid sensing system for a pipe system, and a method of determining a fluid component in an annulus cavity of a pipe The invention relates to a pipe system comprising a) a pipe, b) a fluid sensing station and c) a remote light detector system. The pipe comprises a flow channel and an annular fluid cavity surrounding the flow channel. The fluid sensing station comprises a sensing fluid cavity which is in fluid communication with the annular fluid cavity, and the sensing fluid cavity comprises a light emitter and a light receiver placed at a distance from each other. The light emitter and the light receiver are optically connected to each other and optically connected to the remote light detector system.The invention also relates to a fluid sensing system for sensing a fluid in an annulus cavity of a pipe, said fluid sensing system comprises a fluid sensing station and a remote light detector system. The fluid sensing station comprises a sensing fluid cavity comprising a light emitter and a light receiver placed at a distance from each other and optically connected to each other. The remote light detector system comprises a light source and an analyzer. The light emitter is optically connected to the light source, and the light receiver being optically connected to the analyzer. The fluid sensing station is arranged to be connected to a pipe with an annular fluid cavity to provide a fluid communication between said annular fluid cavity and said sensing fluid cavity.The invention further relates to a method for sensing a fluid in an annulus cavity of a pipe.
US08593630B2	Discrete frequency spectroscopy and instrumentation Described herein are spectrometers comprising one or more wavelength-selective filters, such as guided mode resonance filters. Some of the spectrometers described herein are configured for obtaining absorbance spectra in a discrete fashion by measuring absorbances of a sample at multiple discrete wavelengths or wavelength bands. In another aspect, methods are also provided for obtaining spectra, images and chemical maps of samples in a discrete fashion.
US08593627B2	Apparatus and method for inspecting the inner surface of a tubular structure for contamination A method for inspecting the inner surface of a tubular structure for contamination comprises emitting a light beam directed onto the inner surface at a first end thereof, wherein the beam is directed at a predetermined glancing angle such that it repeatedly reflects off of the inner surface of the tubular structure along the length thereof. The method further comprises receiving the reflected beam at a second end of the tubular structure. The method still further comprises measuring a value of the reflectance of the received reflected beam, defining a parameter value using the measured value, and comparing the parameter value with a predetermined threshold value. The method further comprises determining, based on the comparison, the extent to which the inner surface of the tubular structure is contaminated, and displaying an indication representative of the contamination based on the determination. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.
US08593623B2	Instrument and method for characterising an optical system An instrument (1) for characterizing an optical system, includes: at least one primary source (3) for emitting an illumination light beam (FE); an optical device for directing the illumination beam (FE) onto the optical system (L) to be characterized; a wave front analyzer (4) adapted for receiving a beam from the optical system (L); and a unit for processing the measure signals from the wave front analyzer (4), adapted for providing characterization information of the optical system (L). The instrument further includes a scattering member (22) substantially provided in the focal plane of the optical system (L) so as to create a secondary source generating a secondary beam flowing through the optical system (L) and further directed towards the wave front analyzer.
US08593619B2	System, method and computer-accessible medium for tracking vessel motion during three-dimensional coronary artery microscopy Exemplary embodiments of apparatus, method and computer accessible medium can be provided which can facilitate a determination of at least one characteristic of a structure. For example, it is possible to use at least one first arrangement which can be structured to provide at least one first transmitted radiation along a first axis and at least one second transmitted radiation along a second axis. The first and second transmitted radiations can impact the structure and generate respective first and second returned radiation. The first and second axis can be provided at a predetermined angle with respect with one another which is greater than 0. Further, at least one second arrangement can be provided which can be configured to receive data associated with the first and second returned radiations, and determine at least one relative velocity between the structure and the first arrangement along the first and second axes.
US08593615B2	Height measurement apparatus, exposure apparatus, and device fabrication method The present invention provides a measurement apparatus which measures a height of a test surface, the apparatus including an image sensing device including a plurality of detection units configured to detect interfering light formed by measurement light from the test surface and reference light from a reference surface, and an optical system configured to guide the measurement light and the reference light to the plurality of detection units, wherein the reference surface is placed such that differences are generated among optical path differences between measurement light beams and reference light beams which enter the plurality of detection units, respectively.
US08593608B2	Three-dimensional display A three-dimensional display includes a display panel having a plurality of first pixels arranged in the odd row, and a plurality of second pixels arranged in the even row. Each first pixel has a first and a second transparent regions and a first semiconductor pattern. Each second pixel has a third and a fourth transparent regions and a second semiconductor pattern. In any two adjacent first and second pixels, the first and the third transparent regions are mirror images of each other, and the second and the fourth transparent regions are mirror images of each other. In the adjacent first and second pixels arranged in any two rows, the loss of the light transmittance at any position along the row direction due to overlapping of the first semiconductor and the first transparent region and overlapping of the second semiconductor and the fourth transparent region remains unchanged.
US08593607B2	Liquid crystal display element The object is to make alignment of liquid crystals more uniform by reducing alignment disorder when a voltage is applied and to improve the display quality. A liquid crystal display element comprises a first electrode (122), a second electrode (141) opposed to the first electrode, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode and having alignment of liquid crystal in the voltage-off state being vertical alignment, wherein either one of the first electrode and the second electrode is provided with a plurality of regularly disposed L-shaped slits, and the L-shaped slits (21) are formed so that at least within an area where the first electrode and the second electrode overlap each other, the electrode provided with the slits, is divided into a plurality of rectangular sub-pixel electrodes each having connection portions at three corners for connection to adjacent sub-pixel electrodes.
US08593606B2	Liquid crystal display and fabricating method thereof A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes: a gate line formed as a first conductive pattern; a common line formed as the first conductive pattern; a data line insulatedly crossing the gate line and the common line, and formed as a second conductive pattern; a thin film transistor (TFT) formed at a crossing of the gate line and the data line; a common electrode formed as a third conductive pattern, and connected with the common line; and a pixel electrode connected with the TFT and formed as the third conductive pattern to form a horizontal field together with the common electrode, wherein the third conductive pattern is formed as a dual-layer comprising a metal film and a low reflection film formed on the metal film.
US08593605B2	Liquid crystal display The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display including: a first substrate and an opposing second substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a light blocking member disposed on the first substrate or the second substrate; a first field generating electrode disposed on the first substrate; a second field generating electrode disposed on the first substrate and including branch electrodes overlapping the first field generating electrode; and a gate line disposed on the first substrate and extending in a first direction. A branch electrode of the branch electrodes includes a central portion and a first edge portion disposed at one end of the central portion. A first angle formed between the first edge portion and a second direction is greater than a second angle formed between the second direction and the central portion, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.
US08593602B2	Production method for liquid crystal display device and exposure device including exposure of alignment layers The present invention provides a production method of a liquid crystal display device, and an exposure device, which can inhibit the deterioration of display quality even when the aligning treatment of an alignment layer is performed using an optical alignment method. The present invention pertains to a production method of a liquid crystal display device in which an alignment layer is provided on a substrate and two or more domains are formed in each pixel of a display region by exposing the alignment layer, wherein the production method includes the exposure step of exposing the alignment layer through a photo mask in which a plurality of light-transmitting areas are located in a stripe pattern, and wherein the exposure step is a step of exposing the alignment layer continuously while the relative position of the photo mask with respect to the substrate is moved at the time of viewing a substrate surface from the front in substantially parallel with the light-transmitting area.
US08593601B2	Display panel and method for manufacturing the same A display panel and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The display panel includes: a first substrate, a touch spacer formed on a first substrate, a common electrode formed on the touch spacer, a second substrate opposing the first substrate, a sensing electrode facing the touch spacer on the second substrate and an alignment layer on the sensing electrode or the touch spacer, wherein the alignment layer has a thickness equal to or less than 500 Å.
US08593599B2	Liquid crystal panel and liquid crystal display [Object]The present invention provides a liquid crystal panel with which a display with extremely small change in color depending on a viewing direction can be realized, and a liquid crystal display including the same.[Solution to Problem]The liquid crystal panel includes: a first polarizer 30; a second polarizer 50; a first optical compensation layer 60; a second optical compensation layer 70; and a liquid crystal cell 40. The first polarizer 30 is arranged on one surface of the liquid crystal cell 40. The second polarizer 50 is arranged on the other surface of the liquid crystal cell 40. The first optical compensation layer 60 is arranged between the liquid crystal cell 40 and the first polarizer 30. The second optical compensation layer 70 is arranged between the liquid crystal cell 40 and the second polarizer 50. The first optical compensation layer 60 satisfies the following mathematical formulae (1) and (2). The second optical compensation layer satisfies the following mathematical formulae (3) and (4). nx>ny≧nz (1) (Re[450]/Re[550])<1.00 (2) nx≧ny>nz (3) (Rth[450]/Rth[550])≧1.10 (4)
US08593593B2	Polarization element, projector, liquid crystal device, electronic apparatus, and method of manufacturing polarization element A polarization element according to the invention includes a substrate, a metal layer and an absorber layer formed on the substrate to form a stripe in a plan view and stacked in a thickness direction of the substrate, a first dielectric layer formed on a surface of the metal layer and a second dielectric layer formed on a surface of the absorber layer. The first dielectric layer is made of an oxide of a metal constituting the metal layer, and the second dielectric layer is made of an oxide of a material constituting the absorber layer.
US08593583B2	Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display including: a first substrate, a gate line formed disposed on the first substrate, a first data line and a second data lines formed both of which are disposed on the first substrate, and insulated from and intersection disposed substantially perpendicular to the gate line, a first thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the first data line, a second thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the second data line, a first pixel electrode connected to the first thin film transistor, a second pixel electrode connected to the second thin film transistor, a second substrate facing disposed substantially opposite to the first substrate, a common electrode formed disposed on the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and including biaxial liquid crystal.
US08593581B2	Thermally switched optical downconverting filter A thermally switched optical downconverting (TSOD) filter is a self-regulating device including a downconverter that converts incoming light at a variety of wavelengths into longer-wavelength radiation and then directs it using one or more bandblock filters in either the inward or outward direction, depending on the temperature of the device. This control over the flow of radiant energy occurs independently of the thermal conductivity or insulating properties of the device and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. The TSOD filter is energy-efficient as it can be used to regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. The TSOD filter has unique aesthetic and optical properties not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or walls.
US08593580B2	Projection-type display apparatus A projection-type display apparatus, being suitable to be applied as a light source of a solid-state light source, in the place of a conventional lamp, comprises: a light source unit, which is configured to emit a white-color light therefrom; a light separation optic system, which is configured to separate the white color light from the light source unit into three primary color lights, red-color (R), green-color (G) and blue-color (B); R, G and B light modulating portions, each of which modulates each of R, G and B polarized lights separated, depending on a video signal, respectively; a light composing unit, which is configured to compose optical images, which are formed by the R, G and B light modulating portions; and a projecting portion, which is configure to project the optical image composed, enlargedly, wherein the light source unit emits a white color light emitting from a nearly point-like light source, including an excitation light from a solid-state light emitting element therein.
US08593577B2	Image pickup apparatus and control method for image pickup apparatus, image display apparatus and control method for image display apparatus, and recording medium An image pickup apparatus operates in a normal power-consumption mode in the period after reception of an image-transfer request command from a digital television set until completion of an operation for transferring still image data in accordance with the image-transfer request command, and operates in a low power-consumption mode in the period after the completion of the operation for transferring the still image data in accordance with the image-transfer request command until reception of another image-transfer request command from the digital television set.
US08593572B2	Video signal motion detection Systems and methods directed to determining motion in a video signal are provided. A plurality of pixels of a plurality of adjacent field lines of alternating parity of the video signal are evaluated to generate a plurality of differential values. A sign of each differential value is determined, and when each differential value has the same sign, at least one differential value can be compared with a threshold value. Responsive to the comparison of at least one differential value with a threshold value, a motion coefficient indicative of a magnitude of motion associated with one of the plurality of pixels can be generated.
US08593568B2	Shape memory alloy actuation apparatus A shape memory alloy actuation apparatus comprises a movable element supported on a support structure by a suspension system comprising a plurality of resilient flexures. A shape memory alloy actuator drives movement of the movable element on contraction. An end-stop limits the movement of the movable element in the opposite direction. Rather than using the resilient flexures of the suspension system as the sole biassing means, an additional Massing element biasses the movable element against the SMA actuator. When the moveable element is held against the end-stop, the force applied by the biassing element is greater than the force applied by the flexures of the suspension system. This reduces the design constraints, for example allowing a greater range of movement.
US08593558B2	Camera-based orientation fix from portrait to landscape A portable electronic device includes a camera and a display switchable between a portrait mode and a landscape mode in response to an inertial sensor. When it is determined that the display mode should be switched in response to movement of the device, a feature of a user of the device, such as the user's face, is imaged with the camera. If the imaged feature changes orientation with respect to the display by less than a threshold amount, then the switch in display mode is disabled and the display remains in its current mode. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08593549B2	Image capture apparatus An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor, a determination unit which determines one image capturing mode, a driving unit which drives the image sensor by different driving methods in the respective image capturing modes, and a control unit which controls the operation of the driving unit. The image sensor includes a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed pixels, a predetermined number of vertical output lines arranged for each array of pixels, and a holding memory which holds pixel signals from pixels on rows. The control unit drives the image sensor in the first power save mode when a horizontal transfer period is not less than twice a vertical transfer period, and drives the image sensor in the second power save mode when the vertical transfer period is not less than twice the horizontal transfer period.
US08593538B2	Solid state imaging device According to one embodiment, a solid state imaging device has a semiconductor substrate. First, second and third photoelectric conversion portions are provided in a surface region of the semiconductor substrate. A blue color filter has a film thickness to give a first light path length. A green color filter has a film thickness to give a second light path length longer than the first light path length. A red color filter has a film thickness to give a third light path length longer than the second light path length. A flattening film is formed on the blue color filter, the green color filter and the red color filter. The flattening film flats steps of the color filters. Micro lenses are provided on the flat film. Each of the micro lenses is formed at a position corresponding to each of the first, second and third photoelectric conversion portions.
US08593536B2	Image pickup apparatus with calibration function An image pickup apparatus comprises a lens array with a plurality of lenses, a part of which lenses makes one or more stereo lens pairs; an image pickup device for taking a multifaceted compound-eye image consisting of a set of monocular images formed by the plural lenses; and a computing unit for computing range imagery from one or more pairs of the monocular images formed by said one or more stereo lens pairs. The computing unit includes imaging position determination means for determining from the monocular images an image pickup position of each of one or more subjects whose relative positional relationships with respect to the image pickup apparatus are known by dividing the multifaceted compound-eye image into the monocular images, and image distortion parameter determination means for determining an image distortion parameter based upon a determination result of the imaging position determination means.
US08593534B2	Auto-triggered camera self-timer based on recognition of subject's presence in scene An automated image capture mode of a camera in an electronic device insures that a particular subject appears in the captured image. An image of the particular subject, which may be the photographer, is initially captured. Subsequently, another image capture is automatically triggered when the same subject is detected within the camera's field of view. In one embodiment, a motion sensor within the device may be employed to begin a search for the subject, when the camera is subjected to a sudden movement. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08593533B2	Image processing apparatus, image-pickup apparatus, and image processing method The present invention provides an image processing apparatus capable of obtaining good shake-corrected images in electronic image stablization irrespective of changes of image-taking conditions. An image processing apparatus comprises a shake correcting part that performs coordinate transformation processing based on shake information to an input image that is generated by use of an image-pickup device, and a method changing part that changes a coordinate transformation method for the coordinate transformation processing.
US08593523B2	Method and apparatus for capturing facial expressions A method and an apparatus for capturing facial expressions are provided, in which different facial expressions of a user are captured through a face recognition technique. In the method, a plurality of sequentially captured images containing human faces is received. Regional features of the human faces in the images are respectively captured to generate a target feature vector. The target feature vector is compared with a plurality of previously stored feature vectors to generate a parameter value. When the parameter value is higher than a threshold, one of the images is selected as a target image. Moreover, a facial expression recognition and classification procedures can be further performed. For example, the target image is recognized to obtain a facial expression state, and the image is classified according to the facial expression state.
US08593521B2	Imaging system for vehicle An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging device having a forward field of view exterior of the vehicle. The imaging device is operable to capture multiple frames of image data, and the multiple frames of image data include repeating frame sets. A particular frame set of the repeating frame sets has at least two frames. An image processor operable to process image data captured by the imaging device. A control, responsive to processing of captured image data, controls, at least in part, an intelligent headlamp control feature of the vehicle and a lane departure warning feature of the vehicle. One frame of a particular frame set is processed by the image processor for the intelligent headlamp control feature and no other frame of the particular frame set is processed by the image processor for the intelligent headlamp control feature.
US08593520B2	Peripheral viewing system for a vehicle A peripheral viewing system for a vehicle includes a pair of digital cameras, each positioned on the exterior of the vehicle proximately positioned where a side view mirror would typically be mounted. An additional digital camera is mounted on the vehicle roof immediately adjacent the top edge of the rear window. A plurality of LCD's each discretely associated with a corresponding camera are mounted within the vehicle passenger compartment at a location that is readily observable by the vehicle driver. The driver can panoramically view trailing traffic by observing the LCD's in the passenger compartment. One or more infrared phototransistor receivers are positioned at the rear of the vehicle for detecting oncoming vehicles. If the driver attempts to change lanes and activates a turn signal, a warning message will be emitted within the passenger compartment if any of the transistors detect an approaching vehicle within a predetermined range of the vehicle.
US08593518B2	Computer system for continuous oblique panning A computer system for continuously panningoblique images. More particularly, the computer system uses a methodology whereby separate oblique images are presented in a manner that allows a user to maintain an understanding of the relationship of specific features between different oblique images when panning.
US08593517B2	Method and apparatus for configuring a video surveillance source A method of controlling a video source in a video surveillance system having a video source connected by a network to a workstation having a graphical user interface for enabling a user to control the video source comprising the steps of providing a video analysis program for analyzing the video images generated by the video source before the video images are transmitted over the network, providing a file containing the user interface controls for the graphical user interface and the parameters for configuring the video analysis program; storing the file in memory, downloading the file to the workstation at run time and enabling a user to configure the video analysis program by interacting with the graphical user interface.
US08593511B2	Playback device, integrated circuit, recording medium A playback device for playing back a graphics stream in accordance with a stream selection table recorded on the recording medium. A procedure means determines a playback type of a graphics corresponding to the current stream number, based on the playback capability indicated by the capability register. The playback of graphics streams falls into two types, one of which is a first playback type in which a monoscopic graphics stream is used and the other is a second playback type in which a pair of left-eye graphics stream and right-eye graphics stream is used to perform a stereoscopic playback. The capability register indicates whether or not a capability to perform the stereoscopic playback by using the pair of left-eye graphics stream and right-eye graphics stream is present in the graphics decoder.
US08593506B2	Method and system for forming a panoramic image of a scene having minimal aspect distortion A panoramic image is generated from a sequence of input frames captured by a camera that translates relative to a scene having at least two points at different distances from the camera. A processor (13) is responsive to optical flow between corresponding points in temporally different input frames for computing flow statistics for at least portions of some of the input frames and for computing respective stitching costs between some of the portions and respective neighboring portions thereof. A selection unit (18) selects a sequence of portions and respective neighboring portions that minimizes a cost function that is a function of the flow statistics and stitching costs. A stitching unit (21) stitches the selected portions and respective neighboring portions so as to form a panoramic image of the scene, which may then be displayed or post-processed.
US08593494B2	Method and apparatus for processing and/or inspecting pellet-shaped articles A system for marking pellet shaped articles includes a conveyer to convey the pellet-shaped articles along a transport path, and a laser to generate at least one beam to print or etch information on one or more of the pellet-shaped articles. The information includes at least one of alphabetical characters, numeric characters, and/or logos. The information comprises at least one engraving, e.g., two engravings or holes, apertures, etc., that are adjacent one another and at least partially overlapping. The system includes a controller to control x and y or x, y and z coordinates of the beam of the laser relative to the transport path to align the beam with the one or more of the pellet-shaped articles.
US08593492B2	Light guide plate, backlight unit and display apparatus including the same and manufacturing method thereof A light guide plate, a backlight unit and a display apparatus including the same and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The light guide plate includes: a body which includes an incident surface and an emission surface; at least one first optical path converter which is formed in an opposite surface of the body which is opposite to the emission surface, and extends continuously in a first direction to convert an optical path of an incident light introduced through the incident surface so that the incident light passes through the emission surface; and at least one second optical path converter which is formed in the opposite surface, and is arranged discontinuously in at least one row extending in the first direction.
US08593486B2	Image information output method Provided is a video image data generation system including a database for storing a plurality of image data photographed in various directions in various locations, correlating the directions and the locations with the stored image data, and correlating and storing a photographed sub-region when the image data is acquired, a route view point specifying device which specifies various locations and eye level directions arranged on a view point route, an image search engine which searches an image of an eye level direction specified from a location of a view point route specified by the route view point specifying device and outputs video data, wherein the image search engine searches image data stored in a database and the image data including a sub-region located in an eye level direction in each of a plurality of locations on a view point route by referencing photography direction data correlated with the sub-region.
US08593480B1	Method and apparatus for image data transformation Image data is transformed for display on a target display. A sigmoidal transfer function provides a free parameter controlling min-tone contrast. The transfer function may be dynamically adjusted to accommodate changing ambient lighting conditions. The transformation may be selected so as to automatically adapt image data for display on a target display in a way that substantially preserves creative intent embodied in the image data. The image data may be video data.
US08593477B2	Line drawing processing apparatus and computer-readable recording medium A plurality of closed regions constituting a line drawing image are extracted and displayed on a display means. A desired closed region included among the plurality of displayed closed regions is extracted as an image layer by specifying the desired closed region by means of a manipulation means. At this time, a closed region display screen for displaying the extracted closed regions thereon and an image layer display screen for displaying the extracted image layer thereon are displayed in side by side relation on the display means. Thus, whether an appropriate closed region is converted to the image layer or not is easily determined. Also, when a plurality of closed regions are specified, the plurality of specified closed regions are extracted as an image layer. Thus, the plurality of closed regions are treated together as the single image layer. This achieves such functions and effects that both the improvement in the efficiency of the color application to the line drawing resulting from the image layer process and the improvement in the efficiency of the color application to the line drawing resulting from the closed region extraction are accomplished.
US08593476B2	System for accurately and precisely representing image color information A method and system for accurate and precise representation of color for still and moving images, particularly sequences of digitized color images. Spectral and/or extended dynamic range information is retained as images are captured, processed, and presented during color adjustment. Using this extra spectral information, various methodologies for further presenting or processing the color within these images can be optimized. Presentation-device independence is achieved not by attempting to discover a device-independent intermediate representation, but rather by deferring the binding and mapping of color representation onto a presentation device until its actual use.
US08593473B2	Display device and method for optimizing the memory bandwith A display device that comprises a flag memory containing state flags of pixel areas of the image is provided. The display device comprises a display screen and a graphical generation unit implementing at least three functions for displaying an image, i.e. a first data erasure function, a second function for generating an image comprised of pixels in a first memory, and a third function for displaying the image by reading the pixels in said memory and controlling the screen, in which an image is divided into a plurality of separate pixel areas and in that each area is addressed by a flag, wherein the display device further includes a memory that stores the flag states so that the graphical generation unit can execute the display function on the basis of the flag states. The generation of images having a predominantly uniform background can, in particular, be used for application in aeronautics.
US08593472B1	System and method for accessing a frame buffer via a storage driver One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for retrieving and storing data from/to a frame buffer via a storage driver included in a GPU driver. The storage driver includes three separate routines, the registration engine, the page-fault routine and the write-back routine, that facilitate the transfer of data between the frame buffer and the system memory. The registration engine registers a file system, corresponding to the frame buffer, the page-fault routine and the write-back routine with the VMM. The page-fault routine causes a portion of data stored in a specific memory location in the frame buffer to be transmitted to a corresponding memory location in the application memory. The write-back routine causes data stored in a particular memory location in the application memory to be transmitted to a corresponding memory location in the frame buffer.
US08593471B2	Memory access method and access controller for a memory The method includes the following steps: monitoring an actual value of a relevant parameter of a display bandwidth of data to be output by the memory; comparing the actual value of the relevant parameter with a threshold to determine whether the actual display bandwidth meets predetermined requirements; and selecting an access arbitration mode for the memory according to whether the predetermined requirements are met. The access controller includes: a monitoring and comparing unit, adapted to monitor an actual value of a relevant parameter of a display bandwidth of data to be output by the memory and compare the actual value of the relevant parameter with a threshold to determine whether the actual display bandwidth meets predetermined requirements; and an arbitration adjusting unit, adapted to select an access arbitration mode for the memory according to whether the predetermined requirements are met.
US08593470B2	Dynamic memory clock switching circuit and method for adjusting power consumption A power adjustment circuit includes memory controller logic that is couplable to system memory or other memory if desired. The memory control logic is operative to provide a variable memory clock signal to the system memory and to place the system memory in a self refresh mode wherein the self refresh mode does not require a memory clock signal. Thereafter, the memory clock control logic adjusts the frequency of the memory clock signal to a lower (or higher) frequency clock signal, and in response to the frequency of the memory clock signal becoming stable, the memory clock control logic restores the memory to a normal mode using the lower adjusted frequency memory clock signal. As such, a dynamic memory clock switching mechanism is employed for quickly varying the frequency of memory modules for discrete graphics processors, graphics processors integrated on a chip, or any other processors such that the memory clock can be reduced to a lower frequency in real time to save power.
US08593469B2	Method and circuit for efficient caching of reference video data In some embodiments, a video processing system including video processor, an external memory, and an integrated circuit that implements both a memory controller (having embedded intelligence) and an internal memory coupled to the memory controller. The memory controller is configured to pre-cache in the internal memory partial frames of reference video data in the external memory (e.g., N-line slices of M-line reference frames, where M>N), and to respond to requests (e.g., from the video processor) for blocks of reference video data including by determining whether each requested block (or each of at least two portions thereof) has been pre-cached in the internal memory, causing each requested cached block (or portion thereof) to be read from the internal memory, and causing each requested non-cached block (or portion thereof) to be read from the external memory. Preferably, the pre-caching is performed in a predetermined manner independent of which read requests for the reference data are actually asserted, and exploits known correlation between two-dimensional pixel locality of each block (“current block”) of data to undergo processing (e.g., decoding) using reference data, two-dimensional pixel locality of each block of reference data that may be requested to process the current block, and probability that each such reference data block will be needed to process the current block. Other aspects are memory controllers for use in such a system and methods performed during operation of any such system or memory controller.
US08593468B2	Scalable high performance 3D graphics A high-speed ring topology. In one embodiment, two base chip types are required: a “drawing” chip, LoopDraw, and an “interface” chip, LoopInterface. Each of these chips have a set of pins that supports an identical high speed point to point unidirectional input and output ring interconnect interface: the LoopLink. The LoopDraw chip uses additional pins to connect to several standard memories that form a high bandwidth local memory sub-system. The LoopInterface chip uses additional pins to support a high speed host computer host interface, at least one video output interface, and possibly also additional non-local interconnects to other LoopInterface chip(s).
US08593464B2	System and method for controlling animation by tagging objects within a game environment A game developer can “tag” an item in the game environment. When an animated character walks near the “tagged” item, the animation engine can cause the character's head to turn toward the item, and mathematically computes what needs to be done in order to make the action look real and normal. The tag can also be modified to elicit an emotional response from the character. For example, a tagged enemy can cause fear, while a tagged inanimate object may cause only indifference or indifferent interest.
US08593463B2	Controlling animation frame rate of applications Many computer applications incorporate and support animation (e.g., interactive user interfaces). Unfortunately, it may be challenging for computer applications and rendering systems to render animation frames at a smooth and consistent rate while conserving system resources. Accordingly, a technique for controlling animation rendering frame rate of an application is disclosed herein. An animation rendering update interval of an animation timer may be adjusted based upon a rendering system state (e.g., a rate of compositing visual layouts from animation frames) of a rendering system and/or an application state (e.g., a rate at which an application renders frames) of an application. Adjusting the animation rendering update interval allows the animation timer to adjust the frequency of performing rendering callback notifications (work requests to an application to render animation frames) to an application based upon rendering system performance and application performance.
US08593460B2	Information processing apparatus and power saving effect display method According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus that is operable in a first operation state and a second operation state, the apparatus including: a history storage unit configured to accumulate: a power usage reduction that is calculated based on a power usage difference between the first operation state and the second operation state; and an acquisition time at which the power usage reduction is acquired; an adding-up unit configured to add up values of the power usage reduction for a given period thereby calculating a power usage reduction amount; and an image generation unit configured to generate an image indicating a difference between the power usage reduction amount and a target value therefor and to display the image on a display device.
US08593458B2	Systems and methods of multidimensional query resolution and computation organization Aspects include API interfaces for interfacing shaders with other components and/or code modules that provide ray tracing functionality. For example, API calls may allow direct contribution of light energy to a buffer for an identified pixel, and allow emission of new rays for intersection testing alone or in bundles. The API also can provide a mechanism for associating arbitrary data with ray definition data defining a ray to be tested through a shader using the emit ray call. The arbitrary data is provided to a shader associated with an object that is identified subsequently as having been intersected by the ray. The data can include code, or a pointer to code, that can be used by or run after the shader. The data also can be propagated through a series of shaders, and associated with rays instantiated in each shader. Recursive shaders can be recompiled as non-recursive shaders interfacing with API semantics according to the description.
US08593457B2	Method of three-dimensional image data processing The present invention relates to the field of data processing, and particularly to a software system and associated method for 3D image processing. The invention is to transform 3D images into space codes, and further align code-associated 3D images with known data within a target database.
US08593456B2	Image generating apparatus, method of generating image, program, and recording medium The object is to generate an image in which an overlapped part of a tuned object and a non-tuned object having a contour line drawn therein is naturally represented. Only tuned objects among objects existing in a virtual three-dimensional space are perspective transformed, and image data and depth data of each tuned object is written into a process buffer 163a for each pixel. The contour of each tuned object is detected based on the depth data and normal line data acquired from the perspective transformation process, and contour line data is written into a process buffer 163c together with the depth data. When a non-tuned objects is perspective transformed, in a pixel in which a non-tuned objected is located on the front side of a tuned object, image data and depth data of the process buffer 163a are updated. The contour line data of the process buffer 163c is combined with the image data of the process buffer 163a, and the composed data is written into a frame buffer 112. However, the contour line data of pixels having different depth data is not written.
US08593455B2	Method and system for compressing and decoding mesh data with random accessibility in three-dimensional mesh model A method and system to compress and decode mesh data with random accessibility in a three-dimensional mesh model, the system to compress mesh data with random accessibility in a three-dimensional mesh model including: a mesh data acquisition unit to acquire mesh data from a three-dimensional mesh model having a plurality of cells; a wire mesh generation unit to generate a wire mesh including a plurality of wire cells by using the mesh data, each wire cell including at least two cells of the plurality of cells; a data structure generation unit to generate wire mesh information on the wire mesh and wire cell data including mesh data of the respective wire cells; and an encoding unit to compress the generated wire mesh information and the generated wire cell data.
US08593448B2	Organic light emitting display and method of driving the same An organic light emitting display, and a method of driving the same, controls the voltage of a second power source in accordance with an ambient temperature. The organic light emitting display includes a driver IC configured to drive a pixel unit and to generate a control signal in accordance with an ambient temperature, and a DC-DC converter configured to generate a first power source and a second power source from an input voltage, to change a voltage of the second power source in accordance with the control signal from the driver IC, and to output the changed voltage of the second power source and the first power source.
US08593445B2	Display apparatus, driving methods and electronic instruments A display apparatus employs a pixel array section including pixel circuits forming a matrix, signal lines as columns, scan lines as rows and power-supply lines, and driving sections. The driving sections are a signal selector, a write scanner and a drive scanner. The signal selector provides an electric potential representing a gradation or a predetermined reference electric potential. The write scanner provides a control signal. The drive scanner provides a power-supply voltage changing the electric potential from high to low. The drive scanner drives adjacent power-supply lines as a group. The number of lines as a group is determined in advance. The drive scanner switches a power-supply voltage from high to low and vice versa, and applies the voltage to groups by shifting the phase from group to group. The voltage is supplied to a group at the same phase and switched the electric potential.
US08593442B2	Sensor device, method of driving sensor element, display device with input function and electronic apparatus Techniques are described for detecting and compensating for characteristic changes of a photoelectric conversion element, such as changes related to the temperature of the photoelectric conversion element. A display device that includes an I/O display panel and a light-receiving drive circuit is disclosed. The I/O display panel includes a plurality of display pixels; and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements including a first photoelectric conversion element that substantially is shielded from light and a second photoelectric conversion element that is exposed to light. The light-receiving drive circuit receives a first detection signal from the first photoelectric conversion element and resets the second photoelectric conversion element based on the first detection signal.
US08593439B2	Load driving device, illumination device, display device A load driving device according to the present invention is provided with: an enabling control section generating an enabling signal from an externally inputted PWM signal; and a load driving section that is turned on/off according to the enabling signal, and that PWM-drives the load according to the PWM signal.
US08593436B2	User interface systems and methods for manipulating and viewing digital documents Systems, including handheld computing devices that include system code stored within the memory and adapted to be executed by the processor. The system code can process an input byte stream that is representative of contents to be displayed on the touch sensitive display and can generate a content document file representative of an internal representation of the content.A tool document file may also be stored in the memory and may provide an internal representation of a document providing an image that is representative of a graphical tool. Associated with a tool document can be tool code that is capable of processing the content document file to create an internal representation of the contents that presents the content in a manner that achieves a display effect associated with the tool. The device will also include parsing code that processes the content document file, the tool document file, and the processed internal representation to generate a screen document for display on the touch sensitive display in a manner that portrays the display effect.
US08593429B2	Sensing circuit and method for a capacitive touch panel A sensing method and circuit for a capacitive touch panel sense the capacitance variation of a lateral capacitor formed at the intersection of two traces of the capacitive touch panel, to distinguish a real point from a ghost point. A sensing cycle includes two non-overlapping clock phases. In the first clock phase, the voltages across the lateral capacitor and across a sensing capacitor are set. In the second clock phase, the voltage at a first terminal of the lateral capacitor is changed, and a second terminal of the lateral capacitor is connected to a first terminal of the sensing capacitor, causing a voltage variation at a second terminal of the sensing capacitor. This voltage variation is used to determine whether the intersection is touched. The sensing method and circuit reflect the status of the lateral capacitor in real-time and prevent the location of the touch point from being misjudged.
US08593428B1	Radial track-pad system and method Systems and methods for track-pad input are disclosed. In one embodiment, a track-pad device includes a center sensor and a plurality of radial sensors. The center sensor senses electrical characteristic change at a center of the track-pad device. The plurality of radial sensors sense electrical characteristic changes in the respective vicinity of each of the plurality of radial sensors. The plurality of radial sensors can be configured in concentric rings about the center sensor.
US08593427B1	System and method for managing display power consumption Systems and methods for managing display power consumption are disclosed. In some embodiments first information is displayed in an available display area including a first portion of a display screen in a configuration having a set of portions. The set of portions includes the first portion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input, and a second portion of the display screen, which is configured in a powered-off state. Responsive to a user indication in the in the first portion, the second portion is added to the available display area by transitioning the second portion to the powered-on state to perform display functions and receive user input. Second information is displayed in the second portion.
US08593419B2	Using touches to transfer information between devices A device may comprise a display and a processor. The processor may obtain a first set of one or more touches on a remote surface of a remote device based on a signal received on a communication link between the device and the remote device, receive information associated with the first set of one or more touches through the signal, detect a gesture on the display, and determine whether the information is to be used to obtain content based on the gesture.
US08593415B2	Method for processing touch signal in mobile terminal and mobile terminal using the same A method for processing a touch signal in a mobile terminal and a mobile terminal using the same are disclosed, wherein the method comprises: detecting a shaking of a mobile terminal by using a mobile terminal shaking detection sensor within a predetermined time from a touched time while a touch screen is being touched; and outputting an output signal based on the detected shaking.
US08593414B2	Optical touch system and operating method thereof An optical touch system is disclosed. The optical touch system includes an optical touch apparatus, a control apparatus, and a rotating apparatus. When the control apparatus receives a mode switching signal, the control apparatus selects a corresponding specific using mode from a plurality of default using modes according to the mode switching signal. And, the specific using mode corresponds to a specific rotating angle. The rotating apparatus rotates the optical touch apparatus with the specific rotating angle to make the optical touch apparatus is rotated from a first location to a second location, so that a user can perform an input action via the optical touch apparatus according to the specific using mode.
US08593410B2	Touch sensor panel design A touch sensor panel including a plurality of drive lines crossing a plurality of sense lines, forming an array. The plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines are formed by interconnecting sections of at least one conductive material having a truncated diamond shape or formed of interconnected conductive lines. At least one conductive dummy region may be disposed in an area of the touch sensor panel around the truncated diamond shape sections or interconnected conductive lines of the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines. One or more lines may be formed overlapping the interconnected sections of each of the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines.
US08593409B1	Method and apparatus for providing haptic feedback utilizing multi-actuated waveform phasing A method and device for generating haptic feedback over a touch surface using multi-actuated waveform phasing are disclosed. A haptic device, in one embodiment, includes a touch surface and a group of haptic actuators. The touch surface is capable of sensing an event, wherein the event can be a contact on the touch surface or a movement nearby the surface. A portion of the haptic actuators, which are coupled to the touch surface, is configured to provide haptic feedback on the touch surface in response to the event. Another portion of the haptic actuators is used to minimize unwanted haptic effect on the touch surface.
US08593407B2	Electronic device system utilizing a character input method A character input method is implemented in a device with a plurality of keys. If a key is activated by a first operation matching a first input pattern, a first route is selected to traverse a plurality of characters corresponded by the key during presentation of the plurality of characters. If the first key is activated by a second operation matching a second input pattern, the plurality of characters corresponded by the first key are orderly retrieved and presented according to a second route in response to operations on the first key. The order for presenting two characters corresponded by the first key in the first route is reversed in the second route.
US08593406B2	Interchangeable input modules associated with varying languages Interchangeable input modules, such as keypads, having user input devices configured to mate with base devices are described herein. The user input devices may include pluralities of inputs, such as input keys, associated with languages. The interchangeable input modules may further include storage components configured to store configuration data, linguistic structures, and/or predictive logic. Additionally, the interchangeable input modules may have interfaces configured to electrically couple the interchangeable input modules to the base devices after the interchangeable input modules are mated with the base devices.
US08593404B2	Reduced key arrangement for a mobile communication device A keyboard for a mobile communication device includes a first set of alphanumeric keys that is arranged in a two column by three row array. In a first example, the key arrangement includes vowels and consonants in the two by three array, with function keys positioned in a row that is different from the first set of keys. In another example, the key arrangement includes consonants in the first set of keys and vowels in a second set of keys, with the first set of keys including a two by three array of keys and the second set of keys being positioned in a row other than the rows of the two by three array of keys. The keys may be toggle keys. The characters may be input via multi-tapping the keys, word completion, and/or other known text entry techniques.
US08593399B2	Interface apparatus and method for controlling a device A specific site of a user's body is detected from an input image, it is detected on the basis of a moving speed and a moving direction of the specific site whether the specific site makes a feeding motion in which the specific site moves in any direction, and when the feeding motion is detected, a control command for a device is changed.
US08593398B2	Apparatus and method for proximity based input In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for transferring information items between communications devices. A source device detects a selection input by an input object. Direction of movement of the input object is detected after the selection input. A target device is identified on the basis of the direction of movement of the input object. The target device is connected for transferring an information item associated with the selection input.
US08593397B2	Handheld electronic device having hidden sound openings offset from an audio source The disclosure relates to a handheld electronic device. The device comprises a case and an audio transducer. The case has a housing, a cover, an indentation, a first opening and an audio transducer. The housing has a housing surface. The cover has a cover surface with at least a portion of the cover surface being disposed adjacent at least a portion of the housing surface; an elongated channel formed therein opposite the cover surface; an insert; and a lens disposed adjacent to the insert. The indentation is formed in at least one of the housing adjacent the housing surface and the cover adjacent the cover surface and the indentation is disposed between and forms a cavity in the case between at least a portion of the housing adjacent the housing surface and at least a portion of the cover adjacent the cover surface. The cavity is elongated along at least a first axis. The first opening is formed in the case and provides fluid communication between the cavity and the channel and being located along a first axis. The audio transducer is disposed on the housing and is in fluid communication with the cavity where the audio transducer is spaced from the first opening along the first axis. In the device, the indentation and the first opening are formed in the insert; and the channel is disposed between the insert and the lens.
US08593396B2	Methods and apparatus for driving electro-optic displays Waveforms for driving electro-optic displays, especially bistable electro-optic displays, are modified by one or more of insertion of at least one balanced pulse pair into a base waveform; excision of at least one balanced pulse pair from the base waveform; and insertion of at least one period of zero voltage into the base waveform. Such modifications permit fine control of gray levels.
US08593394B2	Backlight control method for high dynamic range LCD A cumulative function of image is obtained according to its gray levels of pixels. This function is then mapped to obtain a backlight modulation function according to a reference line. The backlight brightness provided for different regions of the liquid crystal display are decided by the backlight modulation function while displaying the images.
US08593392B2	Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device having the same A backlight unit adapted to prevent a combination defect is disclosed.The backlight unit includes: a plurality of light sources arranged in fixed intervals; first and second light source printed-circuit-boards configured to apply driving signals to the plurality of light sources; a plurality of grips disposed on the first and second light source printed-circuit-boards and engaged with both ends of the light sources; and at least two support sides disposed on both ends of the light sources and configured to each include a protrusion which is united with the support side and is configured to prevent a separation of the light sources.
US08593389B2	Gamma-voltage generator A gamma-voltage generator is provided to generating a plurality of first gamma voltages and second gamma voltages. At least one of the first gamma voltages generated by DACs of the gamma-voltage generator within a first frame period and at least one of the second gamma voltages generated by the DACs within a second frame period are outputted from a same one of the gamma buffers of the gamma-voltage generator, whereby the transmitted gamma voltages have substantially equal offset. Therefore, the display quality approaches an ideal condition.
US08593387B2	Display device, driving method of the same and electronic device A display device includes a pixel portion to which a non-inverted video signal is input in a first period and an inverted video signal is input in a second period, and a signal line driver circuit comprising a switch circuit portion for controlling output of the non-inverted video signal and the inverted video signal to the pixel portion. The switch circuit portion is controlled by a first signal serving as a first high power supply potential and a first low power supply potential in the first period and is controlled by a second signal serving as a second high power supply potential and a second low power supply potential in the second period, so that the switch circuit portion controls output of the non-inverted video signal and the inverted video signal to the pixel portion.
US08593386B2	Display device A display device includes: a first display substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of data lines disposed parallel with each other and that cross a center portion of the pixel electrodes, a plurality of gate lines that cross the data lines, and a plurality of driving thin film transistors connected with the data lines, the gate lines and the pixel electrodes; a second display substrate disposed opposite to the first display substrate having a common electrode, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first display substrate and the second display substrate; wherein one of the data lines supplies a data voltage to the pixel electrodes crossed by the one of the data lines and to the pixel electrodes crossed by the adjacent one of the data lines alternately along a longitudinal direction of the data lines.
US08593385B2	Display device comprising color pixels connected to gate drivers and driving method thereof Disclosed are a display device and a driving method thereof. The display device includes: a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a plurality of gate lines, and a plurality of data lines; a first gate driver and a second gate driver which each transmit a gate signal to the gate lines and are at edge regions of the display panel; and a data driver which transmit data voltages to the data lines. The pixels include a plurality of first color pixels which display a first color and are connected to the first gate driver, a plurality of second color pixels which display a second color and are connected to the second gate driver, and a plurality of third color pixels which display a third color and comprise at least a pixel connected to the first gate driver and at least a pixel connected to the second gate driver.
US08593380B2	Organic light emitting diode display and method of manufacturing the same An organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) display includes; a substrate, first and second signal lines which intersect each other and are disposed on the substrate, a switching control electrode connected to the first signal line, a switching input electrode connected to the second signal line, a switching output electrode disposed substantially opposite the switching input electrode with respect to the switching control electrode, a switching semiconductor which partially overlaps the switching input electrode and the switching output electrode, first and second driving control electrodes connected to the switching output electrode, a driving semiconductor disposed between the first and second driving control electrodes, a driving input electrode and a driving output electrode which partially overlap the driving semiconductor and are disposed substantially opposite each other with respect to the driving semiconductor, a first electrode connected to the driving output electrode, a second electrode which faces the first electrode, and a light emitting member disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08593379B2	System and method for determining an overall brightness level of an image to be displayed in a frame period in electroluminescent display devices In an active matrix electroluminescent display device, comprising an array of display pixels, each pixel comprises an electroluminescent display element, active matrix circuitry including at least one drive transistor for driving a current through the display element, means for determining an overall brightness level of an image to be displayed in a frame period, means for controlling the at least one drive transistor of each pixel in dependence on, (1) a respective input signal providing a drive level for the pixel, and (2) the overall brightness level. The novel arrangement is capable of controlling the pixels to limit the maximum currents drawn by the pixels, thereby limiting cross-talk effects resulting from voltage drops along row or column conductors. If an image is bright, the pixel drive levels across the image, or at least part of the image, can be reduced, so that the maximum brightness is reduced.
US08593373B2	Headup display device and method for indicating virtual image A headup display device controls a brightness of an image according to a present illumination in an environment of a vehicle and projects the image to a front windshield of the vehicle to indicate the image as a virtual image in an interior of the vehicle. An illumination determination unit determines a present illumination by multiplying an increasing rate by an interior illumination in the interior of the vehicle when being in a light-adapted state, in which the interior of the vehicle is lighter than the exterior of the vehicle. The illumination determination unit determines the present illumination by multiplying a decreasing rate by an exterior illumination in the exterior of the vehicle when being in a dark-adapted state, in which the interior of the vehicle is darker than the exterior of the vehicle. A brightness control unit controls the brightness to correspond to the determined present illumination.
US08593371B1	Portable device and method for controlling the same A method for controlling a portable device and which includes detecting one of a first unlock command for switching a state of a first display unit to an active state and maintaining a state of a second display unit in a locked state or a second unlock command for switching the state of the first display unit to the active state and switching the state of the second display unit to a ready-to-activate state; switching the states of the first and second display units to the active state and the ready-to-activate state, respectively, when the second unlock command is detected; detecting an unlock trigger; and switching the second display unit to the active state according to the detected unlock trigger.
US08593370B2	Methods of modifying erect concealed antenna towers and associated modified towers and devices therefor The disclosure describes installing an antenna canister in a portion of a concealed antenna pole at a location that is below a top of the pole while the antenna pole is erect and associated components to facilitate the procedure, as well as multi-piece vertical rods, pole mounting bracket assemblies and retrofit kits.
US08593367B2	Modified ground plane (MGP) approach to improving antenna self-matching and bandwidth An antenna design technique which allows antennas to be self-matched while supporting multi-band and broadband operations. The technique includes adding a raised and curved ground plane section electrically coupled to the ground plane. The curved ground plane section allows for a smooth transition of the surface current hence a boarder bandwidth is achieved. A slit positioned between the ground plane and the ground plane section can also be used to further improve the antenna bandwidth. The technique does not increase the antenna thickness neither its volume, thus allowing application in slim handheld device applications such as flip phones. Using this technique, a narrow band antenna is made broadband to cover several frequency bands of interest. The technique is applied to a quad-band antenna to broaden its bandwidth to become a sept-band antenna. The technique is used to also improve the antenna match at all the seven bands it supports.
US08593365B2	Method for installing radiator elements arranged in different planes and antenna thereof A method for installing radiator elements arranged on different planes and an antenna having the radiator elements are provided, in which a first-position radiator element is placed on one plane, a second-position radiator element is placed on another plane, and power supply cables are connected to the first-position radiator element and the second-position radiator element. The power supply cables are designed to compensate for a phase difference between signals radiated in the air from the first-position radiator element and the second-position radiator element by a phase difference between signals propagated via the power supply cables.
US08593364B2	450 MHz donor antenna The present invention provides a donor antenna comprising a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an array of folded dipole antenna mounted on the top surface of the base plate through a plastic holder, wherein the array of folded dipole antennas are arranged in a lattice form; and a feed network defining on the bottom surface for electrically connecting the array of folded dipole antennas to collectively feed to a connector; wherein each of the folded dipole antenna comprises a substrate having symmetrically configured conducting strips defined on the both side of the substrate forming an excitation arm and a ground arm of the folded dipole antenna.
US08593362B2	Multi band telemetry antenna feed A multi band antenna feed, for supporting multiple frequency bands, is coupled to a reflector and includes a cylindrical core waveguide and at least three coaxial cylinders, encircling said cylindrical core waveguide and forming at least three coaxial waveguides, bounded between pairs of consecutive coaxial cylinders. The cylindrical core waveguide and the at least three coaxial waveguides provide a pair of sum and difference radiation patterns, for each frequency band: a C-band, an S-band and an L-band.
US08593361B2	Multi-sector radiating device with an omni-directional mode The present invention relates to a multi-sector radiating device intended to receive and/or transmit electromagnetic signals, comprising at least, arranged on a plane substrate: a first set of antennas, with: a first antenna, a second antenna, a third antenna, arranged in the opposite manner to the first antenna, a fourth antenna, arranged in the opposite manner to the second antenna, the antennas being longitudinal radiation slot type antennas, said antennas each presenting a bisector, wherein the radiating device comprises a switching circuit capable of activating one or more of the antennas, and notably all the antennas of the first set of antennas, -and in that the bisectors of the opposed antennas on the substrate are not combined.
US08593360B2	Slotted ground-plane used as a slot antenna or used for a PIFA antenna A wireless device includes a ground plane with at least two portions. On each of the at least two portions at least one connecting means is provided. The two connecting means are connected with an electric component for connecting the at least two portions of the ground plane. The ground plane is partially covered with an insulating material and the connecting means are given by a part of the ground plane which is not covered by any insulating material.
US08593359B2	Antenna An antenna includes a metal member, an antenna, and a capacitor. The metal member includes a plurality of sidewalls connecting with each other. The antenna includes a fixing end and a free end, the fixing end is fixed to the metal member. The capacitor connects with the metal member and the free end of the antenna.
US08593355B1	Reconfigurable buoyant cable antenna with improved gain An antenna element with a single-conductor antenna is provided within a removable core. The removable core is mounted within a hollow liner by sliding the core into the hollow liner. A pull cable may be attached to an end of the removable core to pull the core through the outboard end of the hollow liner. Due to reduced strain on the core as compared to the liner, the single-conductor antenna may be formed in segments interconnected with capacitors for adjusting the antenna gain to a maximum in the vicinity of a desired operating frequency or frequencies.
US08593352B2	Triple-band antenna with low profile A multi-band antenna includes a grounding element having an edge and a grounding point, a first radiating arm being substantially of L shape and located above the grounding element, a second radiating arm working at a first frequency band and being substantially of L shape above the first radiating arm, a third radiating arm working at a second frequency band and being substantially of rectangular metal patch parallel to the edge of the grounding element, and a feeding line including an inner conductor connected to the first radiating arm and an outer conductor connected to the grounding point of the grounding element. The feeding line, the first radiating arm, the grounding element commonly compose a slot operating at a third frequency band.
US08593351B2	Portable electronic device A portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a housing, a circuit board, an amplifier, an antenna and a short element. The circuit board is disposed in the housing, wherein the circuit board includes a first edge and a second edge, and the first edge is opposite to the second edge. The amplifier is disposed on the circuit board and adjacent to the first edge. The antenna is disposed on the second edge of the circuit board, wherein the antenna transmits a wireless signal. The short element is disposed on the second edge of the circuit board, wherein the short element is separated from the antenna, and the short element couples with the antenna to reduce Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value around the amplifier.
US08593343B2	Adjusting a bandwidth of GNSS receivers Embodiments of the invention provide a method of adjusting a bandwidth of receivers. A plurality of outputs from a correlator engine are combined. User dynamics are sensed. Bandwidth of one or more receivers are adjusted. By detecting when the user is stationary, the Doppler frequency estimation can be corrected or the SNR can be boosted more both of which lead to improved performance. The embodiments allow a receiver to process signals in when the signal level would otherwise be too low—for example indoors. The embodiments can improve performance when one or more satellites are temporarily blocked but one or more satellites are still being tracked.
US08593339B2	Mobile satellite communications Provided is a mobile satellite transceiver system for communicating with a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite and a communications satellite. In on implementation, the mobile satellite transceiver system includes a GPS receiver configured to receive communications from the GPS satellite, a satellite modem configured to transmit and receive communications from the communications satellite, and an operating system. In some implementations, the operating system of the mobile satellite transceiver system is configured to send and receive text messages to/from the communications satellite via the satellite modem. In some implementations the mobile satellite transceiver system also includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) interrogator for communicating with RFID tags.
US08593338B2	Creating and processing universal radar waveforms A new approach to radar imaging is described herein, in which radar pulses are transmitted with an uneven sampling scheme and subsequently processed with novel algorithms to produce images of equivalent resolution and quality as standard images produced using standard synthetic aperture radar (SAR) waveforms and processing techniques. The radar data collected with these waveforms can be used to create many other useful products such as moving target indication (MTI) and high resolution terrain information (HRTI). The waveform and the correction algorithms described herein allow the algorithms of these other radar products to take advantage of the quality Doppler resolution.
US08593337B2	Phased array antenna and its phase calibration method A phased array antenna includes an oscillator, a plurality of antenna elements, a phase shifter, a distributor, a receiver, and a control processor. The control processor performs a first calibration process to calibrate a phase of the phase shifter connected to a pair of antenna elements that is selected from the antenna elements and are located at a pair of positions symmetric with respect to a central axis of an array formed by the phased array antenna, and a second calibration process to calibrate a phase of the phase shifter connected to a pair of target antenna elements with respect to a phase of the phase shifter connected to a reference antenna elements located at a central portion of the array. The pair of target antenna elements are located at a pair of positions that are symmetric with respect to the central axis of the array.
US08593328B2	Method for performing exo-atmospheric missile's interception trial An inflatable dummy target fittable into a carrier missile capable of being released from the carrier missile during exo-atmospheric flight; upon release, the dummy target or portion thereof is capable of being inflated and manifest characteristics that resemble GTG missile characteristics, wherein the GTG missile characteristics include IR signature, RF signature and GTG missile.
US08593324B2	Analog-to-digital converting circuit and analog-to-digital converting method An analog-to-digital converting circuit includes a reference circuit and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The reference circuit provides a base voltage, which has one end grounded. The ADC receives an analog input signal and a base voltage signal. The ADC includes a first DC buffer and an ADC core unit. The first DC buffer internally receives an offset voltage signal and a data voltage signal to be digitized, and outputs two converting control signals. The ADC core unit receives the two converting control signals from the first DC buffer and an ADC input range voltage signal, and outputs a digital code. All of the offset voltage signal and the data voltage signal and the ADC input range voltage signal have been added with the base voltage signal.
US08593323B2	A/D conversion device An A/D conversion device has first to third pulse delay circuits, first to third pulse passage stage detection circuits, a time output circuit, and an output circuit. Each of the first to third pulse delay circuit has multiple stages of delay units which are connected together and delay a first to a third pulse signals, respectively. Each of the first to third pulse passage stage detection circuit detects a first to a third number of stages, respectively. The time output circuit outputs a time signal. The output circuit outputs the digital value corresponding to the third number of stages.
US08593321B2	Computation apparatus and method, quantization apparatus and method, and program A computation apparatus includes a range table creation unit configured to create a range table in which a discrete value of a computation result obtained by applying a nonlinear computation on an input value corresponds to a range of the input value which may take the discrete value, and a search unit configured to search, when the input value is input, in the range table, for the range in which the input value is included and output the discrete value corresponding to the searched range.
US08593319B2	Image sensors and image processing systems An image sensor includes a delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter (ADC) including a delta-sigma modulator (DSM) and a voltage adjusting circuit. The DSM is configured to perform delta-sigma modulation on an analog signal from a unit pixel. The delta-sigma ADC is configured to convert the analog signal to a digital signal. The voltage adjusting circuit includes a replica inverter having a same configuration as at least one inverter included in the DSM. The voltage adjusting circuit is configured to adjust a power supply voltage and an input voltage provided to the at least one inverter based on a current flowing in the replica inverter.
US08593316B2	Combined digital output system A combined digital output system includes two quantization modules, a common mode counter, a differential mode counter, and a summing module. The quantization modules provide two digital signals, the common mode counter generates a common mode signal according to the digital signals, the differential mode counter generates a differential mode signal according to the two digital signals, and the summing module obtains the common mode signal and the differential mode signal, so as to generate a summing signal.
US08593315B2	A/D conversion device and A/D conversion correcting method An A/D conversion unit performs an A/D conversion operation twice during a hold period of an analog value. In a first conversion operation, the A/D conversion unit compares the analog value with a first reference voltage and outputs a comparison result as first converted data. In a second conversion operation, the A/D conversion unit compares the analog value with a second reference voltage and outputs a comparison result as second converted data. The second reference voltage is a voltage obtained by adding or subtracting a minimum resolution voltage to or from the first reference voltage. A digital processing unit averages errors of the first and second converted data by digital processing to detect an A/D conversion error, and feeds back a detection result to the A/D conversion unit as a control value to perform voltage control.
US08593313B2	Parallel-to-serial conversion circuit, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and parallel-to-serial conversion method A parallel-to-serial conversion circuit includes a plurality of parallel-to-serial conversion units, each being configured to include a dividing circuit configured to divide a clock signal having a second clock cycle to generate a clock signal having a first clock cycle, a parallel input circuit configured to input a signal having a plurality of bits parallel to one another in the first clock cycle, and a serial output circuit configured to serially output the signal having the plurality of bits input to the parallel input circuit bit-by-bit in the second clock cycle, wherein, among the plurality of parallel-to-serial conversion units, one of the dividing circuits has a synchronization signal interface that causes an output clock signal to synchronize with a clock signal output from the other dividing circuit in another parallel-to-serial conversion unit.
US08593309B2	Method for efficient decoding of variable length codes A method, system, and computer program product for decoding a variable length code. A decoding module is configured to receive the variable length code. The variable length code is a plurality of bits. The decoding module is also configured to identify a number of times the lead bit is repeated consecutively at the beginning of the plurality of bits. The lead bit is predetermined to be one of a 1 or 0. The decoding module is also configured to identify a code word in a table of code words by using the number of times the lead bit is repeated.
US08593306B2	Huffman decoder and decoding method thereof A Huffman decoder includes a storage module, a receiving module, and a determining module. The storage module stores a target path corresponding to a rare path. The receiving module receives a codeword in a source data stream and acquires corresponding path data for the codeword. The determining module compares the path data and the target path, and determines the codeword as the rare code when the path data and the target path are the same.
US08593304B2	Installation for detecting and displaying the failures of the functional systems of an aircraft An installation for detecting and displaying the failures of the functional systems of an aircraft is described. The installation can include both a general alarm system (4) connected to said functional systems (2) and to the auxiliary alarm detection means (5) originated from said functional systems, and a complementary alarm system (6), connected to said functional systems (2), independently from the general system (4), and able to indicate a breakdown not detected by the general system on the instrument panel of the cockpit.
US08593303B2	Reflector pole The invention relates to a Reflector pole (1), which is used as a road marker, a road boundary, a sign pole or for similar applications related to road or pedestrian traffic, comprising a main body (2), featuring at least one light active field (3). According to the invention the light active field (3) comprises an organic light emitting diode (OLED) (4).
US08593299B2	LED light global positioning and routing communication system An LED light and communication system includes at least one optical transceiver, the optical transceiver including a light support and a processor. The light support has a plurality of light emitting diodes and at least one photodetector attached thereto. The processor is in communication with the light emitting diodes and the at least one photodetector, where the processor is constructed and arranged to illuminate at least one of the light emitting diodes to generate a light signal which in turn includes at least one embedded data packet. The at least one embedded data packet communicates global positioning system (GPS) location information.
US08593297B2	Walking guidance apparatus using human body communication A walking guidance apparatus using human body communication, including: a first human body communication device acquiring a walking guidance information signal, converting the acquired walking guidance information signal into a signal available for human body communication, and transmitting the converted signal through a user's body; and a second human body communication device receiving the signal transmitted through the user's body from the first human body communication device, converting the received signal into a signal that can be recognized by the user, and outputting the converted signal. Walking guidance information having a high privacy function and high stability and accuracy can be provided to enhance user convenience.
US08593293B2	Tension indicator The present invention concerns a tension indicator for indicating when a strap (2) has reached a predetermined tension level, comprising an audible signal producing member (7) having an abutment surface for engagement with said strap, said audible signal producing member altering its physical configuration in reaction to tension in said strap reaching a predetermined value, wherein the change in physical configuration creates an audible signal.
US08593292B2	Household electrical appliance Herein disclosed is a household electrical appliance easily to know whether electricity rates are high or low when using the household electrical appliance, even in the variable rate system. The household electrical appliance includes, a receiving unit that receives information of electricity rates which are changed based on power generation capacity and power consumption amount and charged for power consumption as instantaneous electricity rate information; an electricity rate information accumulating unit that accumulates the received instantaneous electricity rate information; a determination unit that outputs a result obtained by statistically calculating a plurality of the accumulated instantaneous electricity rate information items as reference electricity rate information, and compares the latest received instantaneous electricity rate information with the output reference electricity rate information; and a numerical value display unit that notifies whether the latest instantaneous electricity rate information is higher than the reference electricity rate information.
US08593286B2	System and method for wireless monitoring of sports activities The subject disclosure provides a system and method for wireless monitoring of sports activities. A subject participating in a sports activity is associated with biometric sensors which measure the subject's body movements. In one aspect, the system includes a sensor for continuously gathering biometric data from a subject performing a sports activity where the biometric data associated with the body movements of the subject. A wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor transmits the biometric data and a database engine receives the biometric data from the wireless transceiver and providing real-time feedback. The real-time feedback associated with the biometric data from the subject is characterized by instructions associated with the sports activity.
US08593285B2	Safety-determination information generating apparatus and safety confirmation system A safety-determination information generating apparatus detects that a toilet equipment used for excretion, which is a regular behavior in the daily life of a monitoring subject, is used. Once the flushing operation unit is touched by the monitoring subject who flushes the toilet after relieving himself/herself, the safety-determination information generating apparatus detects, using the contact sensor, the touching as the use of the equipment, and sends as the safety-determination information the equipment-use information representing that the toilet is used to a remote monitoring apparatus. The remote monitoring apparatus receives the safety-determination information sent by the safety-determination information generating apparatus and displays on the display that the monitoring subject has used the equipment on the basis of the safety-determination information.
US08593282B2	RTLS-enabled tag reclamation receptacle Techniques are provided for reducing the transmission of infrared (IR) signals outside of a reclamation receptacle. Techniques include using a reclamation receptacle having an IR transmitter configured to transmit IR signals when the reclamation receptacle is in a closed configuration and configured to cease transmission of the IR signals when the reclamation receptacle is in an open configuration. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag may be deposited in the reclamation receptacle. The RFID tag may receive the IR signals and generate a radio frequency (RF) signal in response to the IR signals, wherein the RF signal indicates that the RFID tag is in the reclamation receptacle.
US08593277B2	System and method for proximity detection The present invention is for a system and method for determining the proximity of a mobile device to a location without the use of a satellite based or other location awareness system, nor a stationary beacon of any kind. Instead, the mobile device monitors radio frequency broadcast identification codes from nearby mobile devices, and determines if the set of detected identification codes is sufficiently similar to a weighted set of identification codes attributed to specified location. If the calculation of similarity meets the confidence conditions of the system, notification is made that the customer or visitor has arrived. The invention utilizes a combination of confidence interval computation, machine learning, and fault tolerance mechanisms to optimize the success of correctly detecting that the device is near the relevant location.
US08593275B2	Wireless monitoring system and method with dual mode alarming A patient monitoring system and method for reliably communicating alarm conditions detected by an acquisition device that receives physiological data from the patient. The acquisition device includes a control unit that detects alarm conditions based upon the physiological data received from the patient. A primary transmitter and a secondary transmitter are coupled to the control unit and are each capable of transmitting the alarm condition. The primary transmitter is configured to connect to a wireless network and communicate over a first frequency range. The secondary transmitter is configured to transmit over a secondary wireless network using a second frequency range different from the first frequency range. When the primary transmitter is not able to communicate with the primary wireless network, the control unit activates the secondary transmitter to transmit the alarm condition. The secondary transmitter remains active until the primary transmitter reconnects with the primary wireless network.
US08593274B2	Digital telephony distressed sound detection A system and method for monitoring for a distressed sound is disclosed. The system comprises a noise detection module configured to monitor ambient noise through a microphone on a digital telephony device operating in an idle state and determine an ambient noise level. A sound processing module is configured to process sounds received from the microphone that have an amplitude a selected amount greater than an amplitude of the ambient noise and determine if the processed sounds match a predetermined statistical model of a distressed sound. An assistance request module is configured to send a request for assistance via the digital telephony device for processed sounds that match the predetermined statistical model of the distressed sound.
US08593270B2	Tester for testing signal lines of a flight control system for a THS motor of an aircraft The present invention relates to a tester, its use and a method for testing signal lines of a flight control system for a trimmable horizontal stabilizer (THS) motor of an aircraft. The tester comprises at least one test-relay (52, 54) to be connected with a relay socket of the flight control system, when the signal lines of the flight control system are to be tested, and at least one indicator (60, 70, 80, 90) being electrically connected with the at least one test-relay (52, 54) for indicating whether a voltage being applied to the test-relay (52, 54) is equal to or larger than a predetermined voltage. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of connecting at least one test-relay (52, 54) of a tester (1), in place of the original relay, with the relay socket of the flight control system, applying a voltage to the at least one test-relay (52, 54) and determining whether a voltage being applied to the at least one test-relay (52, 54) is equal to or larger than a predetermined voltage.
US08593268B2	Time clock control for outside lighting A device and method to automatically control timing of outside lighting are achieved. An ephemeris program and a calendar are loaded into memory on a timing device. Power is applied to the device wherein a GPS circuit on the device is energized, and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), Current Day (CD), and physical location of the device are determined from satellite signals through an antenna or alternately from a repeater circuit or a key fob type device. GMT and CD that are retrieved are stored in memory. Lighting on and off times are calculated by the ephemeris program based on physical location, the calendar, GMT, CD, and the user selected distance of the sun below the horizon. Lights are turned on and off based on the calculated on and off times.
US08593265B1	Motorized wheel system with wireless remote control unit for ladders A motorized wheel system with wireless remote for portable support structure such as ladders and scaffolds to enable a user to relocate the ladder without dismounting by attaching wheels to the portable structure's legs wherein the wheels are remotely controllable. The motorized wheel system with a remote control mechanism comprises a remote motorized wheel device associated with each leg, each having a power supply for driving a motor and a receiver that is in radio communication with a transmitter on a remote control mechanism used to remotely engage the power supply and steer the wheels.
US08593256B2	Washable RFID device for apparel tracking A radio frequency identification (RFID) device including: a circuit provisioned to communicate an identification code to an RFID reader; a first antenna operatively connected to the circuit; and a radiating structure inductive coupled to the first antenna.
US08593254B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit, card comprising the same, and operating method of semiconductor integrated circuit A semiconductor integrated circuit has a rectifying circuit, a switched capacitor, a switched-capacitor drive circuit, a demodulator, and an internal circuit. The switched capacitor executes series charging and parallel discharging to/from a plurality of capacitors using an output rectified voltage. When the current driving performance at the time of supplying a power source voltage is set to a high state, so that a receiving operation in a card is executed reliably even at a long communication distance. Transmission signal data from a card is supplied to a switched-capacitor current driving performance increase disable circuit, and the current driving performance at the time of supplying the power source voltage in the switched capacitor is changed to be low. The change is detected as a magnetic field change in an antenna by an apparatus.
US08593252B2	Electronic lock box proximity access control An electronic lock box system includes a wireless portable transponder that communicates with an electronic lock box using a low power radio link. The portable transponder includes: a wide area network radio to communicate to a central clearinghouse computer, a motion sensor to activate its wide area network radio, and a connector to communicate with a secure memory device. The electronic lock box sends a hail message that is intercepted by the portable transponder; the hail message includes identification information. The portable transponder responds with a message that includes a time sensitive encryption key; the lock box authenticates this response message using its own time sensitive encryption key. If the messages are authenticated, the lock box sends an access event record to the portable transponder, and this access event record is stored in the secure memory device. If a wide area network is available, the portable transponder sends the access event record to the central clearinghouse computer.
US08593247B2	Chip-type coil component There is provided a chip-type coil component, including: a body formed by laminating a plurality of magnetic layers, and having a lower surface provided as a mounting area, an upper surface corresponding thereto, two end surfaces, and two lateral surfaces; conductor patterns formed on the magnetic layers, respectively, and connected to each other to have a coil structure; and external electrodes formed on at least one external surface of the body, and electrically connected to the conductor patterns, the external electrodes each being formed on the lower surface and spaced apart from edges thereof. Short circuits between electronic components may be prevented and sticking strength between the chip-type coil component and a substrate may be increased.
US08593246B2	Reactor and production method thereof A reactor which may be employed in an inverter for automotive vehicles. The reactor includes a coil, a core, a casing, and a positioning member. The core is made of a solidified magnetic powder/resin mixture and has the coil embedded therein. The positioning member is disposed in the casing to position the coil relative to the casing and equipped with fins configured to stir the magnetic powder/resin mixture before solidified. Specifically, the positioning member is designed to perform two functions: one is to fix the location of the coil within the casing, and the other is to stir the magnetic powder/resin mixture through the fins, thus eliminating the need for removing a portion of the magnetic powder/resin mixture adhered to the fins, which leads to improved productivity of the reactor.
US08593245B2	Coil assembly and magnetic element with shielding function A coil assembly includes at least one insulated wire and an electromagnetic interference shielding layer. The insulated wire is wound into a winding coil part. The winding coil part includes a first wire-outlet segment, a second wire-outlet segment and a central through-hole. The electromagnetic interference shielding layer is formed on the winding coil part for shielding the insulated wire. The electromagnetic interference shielding layer has lateral projection profile on the winding coil part. The electromagnetic interference shielding layer has a radial gap such that the electromagnetic interference shielding layer is a non-conducting loop.
US08593238B2	Technique for conveying a wireless-standard signal through a barrier The RF signal generated by a ZigBee radio on the outside of a building structure is conveyed to the interior of the building by guiding it along an electric cable bundle that passes through the building's wall to supply domestic electric power to the interior of the structure. The RF signal is launched by a unique coupler comprising a pair of insulated foil conductors.
US08593236B2	Microwave waveguide filter with non-parallel walls The invention concerns a waveguide filter (200NP) for microwaves, characterized in that it has, at least on part of its length, a cross-section having two mutually non-parallel opposite sides (111, 111′), for example trapezoid. The use of such a shape enables the power threshold for forming self-maintained electron avalanche discharges to substantially increased and satisfactory filtering properties to be obtained. The invention also concerns the use of such a filter in a high-power microwave transmitter operating in X and Ka bands, in particular for space applications.
US08593232B2	Multi-band frequency oscillating device An oscillating device is provided that has several oscillators. Each oscillator has a capacitive inductive resonant circuit and a flow-through conduction circuit having a negative flow-through conduction. The inductive elements of the oscillators are mutually coupled. Each oscillator also has short-circuit or not short-circuit the capacitive element of the oscillator. The oscillating device also has a controllable commutating means arranged to activate one oscillator at a time.
US08593230B2	Circuit and method for correcting temperature dependence of frequency for piezoresistive oscillators MEMS oscillators, which include a silicon-type, in particular piezoresistive resonators, can be used to provide a fixed, stable output frequency. Silicon has a natural temperature dependence of Young's modulus, therefore, as ambient temperature changes and/or the piezoresistive resonator is powered, the resonator temperature changes, and the resonance frequency of the resonator drifts. In order to account for the temperature drift of the piezoresistive resonator, the piezoresistive resonator itself is used as a temperature sensor. The relative resistance change of the piezoresistive resonator depends only on the relative temperature change and material property of the resonator. Therefore, an accurate temperature can be sensed directly on the piezoresistive resonator. The temperature drift information is provided to a frequency adjuster, which corrects the output frequency of the circuit.
US08593224B1	Regulator and temperature compensation bias circuit for linearized power amplifier An improved regulator circuit, temperature compensation bias circuit, and amplifier circuit are disclosed.
US08593222B2	Amplifier An amplifier includes an output stage circuit, a current source, a PMOS input pair, an NMOS input pair and a current transferring circuit. The output stage circuit is electrically coupled to a supply voltage and a ground voltage. The current source has a node to provide a current. The PMOS input pair is coupled to the node and the ground voltage and controlled by an input voltage. The NMOS input pair coupled to the supply voltage is controlled by the input voltage. The current transferring circuit is coupled to the node and the NMOS input pair. When the input voltage is less than a specific value, the current flows into the PMOS input pair through the node. When the input voltage is larger than or equal to the specific value, the current flows into the NMOS input pair through the node and the current transferring circuit.
US08593220B2	Power MOSFETs with improved efficiency for multi-channel class D audio amplifiers and packaging therefor A stereo class-D audio system includes a first die including four monolithically integrated NMOS high-side devices and a second a second die including four monolithically integrated PMOS low-side devices. The audio system also includes a set of electrical contacts for connecting the high and low-side devices to components within the a stereo class-D audio system, the set of electrical contacts including at least one supply contact for connecting the drains of the high-side devices to a supply voltage (Vcc) and at least one ground contact for connecting the drains of the low-side devices to ground, the electrical contacts also including respective contacts for each source of the high and low-side devices allowing the source of each high-side device to be connected to the source of a respective low-side device to form two H-bridge circuits.
US08593212B2	Signal noise ratio control system and method thereof A signal-noise ratio control system which reduces noise interference includes a touch sensor, a touch controller, and a level shifter. The touch sensor is driven by a driving signal and outputs an analog signal based on a touch situation. The touch controller generates the driving signal and provides a divided voltage based on the analog signal. The level shifter adjusts a voltage level of the driving signal based on a voltage level of the divided voltage.
US08593211B2	System and apparatus for driver circuit for protection of gates of GaN FETs A half-bridge power circuit comprises a first gallium nitride field effect transistor (GaN FET); a first driver coupled to a gate of the first GaN FET; an anode of a capacitor coupled to an output of the driver and a source of the first GaN FET; a diode having a cathode coupled to the cathode of the capacitor; and a bootstrap capacitor clamp (BCC) controller, including: a field effect transistor (FET) coupled to an anode of the diode, and a comparator coupled to a gate of the FET, the comparator configured to receive as inputs: a) a signal representative of an input voltage (VDRV) applied to the FET; b) a ground; c) a boot signal representative of a voltage at the anode of the capacitor (Boot); and d) a signal representative of a voltage at the source of the first GaN FET (SW).
US08593210B2	Signal distribution device and display device A peripheral region of a display panel includes a signal distribution device (4) for time-dividing and distributing, to output terminals (7), an output signal from a source driver. The signal distribution device (4) includes switching elements (20) for the output terminals (7). Each switching element (20) is controlled by a selection signal supplied to a control line (9) connected with a gate electrode. Each switching element (20) includes a source electrode and the drain electrode each having a comb-like shape having a stem part and branch parts extending therefrom. In at least one switching element (20), only all of or part of the branch parts overlap the control line (9) and a semiconductor layer (10). This suppresses abnormal heat generation of a source driver in a display device including the signal distribution circuit by which an output signal from the source driver is distributed to pixels in time series.
US08593208B2	Phase mixer and delay locked loop including the same A phase mixer includes a first driver configured to drive a first input signal to a mixing node with a driving force determined by a first setting value, a second driver configured to drive a second input signal to the mixing node with a driving force determined by a second setting value, and a slew rate control unit configured to control a slew rate at the mixing node.
US08593207B2	Limiting amplifiers A limiting amplifier with an input stage with dc offset cancellation, identical gain stages, an output buffer and a feedback filter. The input stage receives a differential input signal and outputs a first intermediate differential signal. The gain stages are cascaded to amplify the first intermediate differential signal and generate a second intermediate differential signal, amplified by the output buffer to produce an output signal. The feedback filter provides a dc offset voltage of the output signal to the input stage for the dc offset cancellation. The input stage comprises a resistor network coupled between a pair of input nodes and a power line and comprising a common resistor, a pair of load resistors and a shunt resistor. The load resistors share a common terminal connected to the common resistor that is connected to the power line. The shunt resistor has two terminals respectively connected to the load resistors.
US08593206B2	Up-conversion mixer having a reduced third order harmonic According to some embodiments, an up-conversion mixer includes a mixer cell having an output node arranged to provide an output. An input stage is coupled to the mixer cell and arranged to receive an input signal. The mixer cell is configured to generate the output with an up-converted frequency compared to an input frequency of the input signal. The input stage is configured to reduce a third order harmonic term of the output so that an output power plot of the third order harmonic term with respect to an input power has a notch with a local minimum.
US08593199B2	Clock generation method and system The clock generation method contains the following steps. In a pulse recognition step, an input pulse signal is first filtered to remove a shorter signal. Then, a width digitization calculation is conducted on the remaining pulse signal. Based on the width digitization calculation, a signal is recorded and a period of the recorded signal is determined. The value of the period is delivered to a gain module. In a step for verifying the input value to D/A converter, two values are input to a D/A converter from the gain module, and the output from the D/A converter is delivered to an oscillator. The gain module determines a desired input value from the gain module to the D/A converter. In a pulse generation step, the gain module inputs the desired input value to the D/A converter which in turn delivers to the oscillator for the generation of a corresponding clock.
US08593197B1	Delay line circuit, delay locked loop and tester system including the same The invention provides a delay line circuit. The delay line circuit includes a delay line section and a feedback selection section. The delay line section receives an input clock signal and a feedback clock signal and delays one of the input clock signal and the feedback clock signal to generate an output clock signal, wherein the delay line section includes a plurality of delay units coupled in series. The feedback selection section is coupled to the delay line section and feedbacks the output clock signal to one of the delay units to serve as the feedback clock signal based on a selection signal. Wherein, one of the input clock signal and the feedback clock signal is delayed by a specific number of the delay units based on the selection signal to changes the frequency of the output clock signal.
US08593186B2	Control signal generator for use with a command decoder A semiconductor device includes a control signal generator configured to generate a control signal that is enabled in a predetermined duration in response to an enabling of a chip selection signal, a clock controller configured to transfer a clock as a decoding clock in a duration for enabling of the control signal and disable the decoding clock in a duration for disabling of the control signal, and a command decoder configured to generate an internal command by decoding the chip selection signal and one or more command signals in synchronization with the decoding clock.
US08593183B2	Architecture for controlling clock characteristics An architecture for controlling the clock waveform characteristics, including but not limited to the clock amplitude and clock rise and/or fall times, of resonant clock distribution networks is proposed. This architecture relies on controlling the size of clock drivers and the duty cycles of reference clocks. It is targeted at resonant clock distribution networks and allows for the adjustment of resonant clock waveform characteristics with no need to route an additional power grid. Such an architecture is generally applicable to semiconductor devices with multiple clock frequencies, and high-performance and low-power clocking requirements such as microprocessors, ASICs, and SOCs.
US08593179B2	Delay circuit and inverter for semiconductor integrated device An inverter of a delay circuit in a semiconductor integrated device that has a high resistance to an electrostatic discharge. The delay circuit includes at least one inverter. Each inverter has high and low potential parts. The low potential part includes a pair of FETs. A source terminal of one FET is connected to a drain terminal of the other FET at a first common node. The high potential part includes another pair of FETs, with a source terminal of one FET being connected to a drain terminal of the other FET at a second common node. A power supply potential is applied to the first common node when the inverter output becomes a high potential. A ground potential is applied to the second common node when the inverter output becomes a low potential.
US08593173B2	Programmable logic sensing in magnetic random access memory A Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) logic circuit includes read sensing circuitry having a first level corresponding to a first category of logic circuitry and a second logic level corresponding to a second category of logic circuitry. The logic circuitry may be switchable between circuitry having the first logic level and circuitry having the second logic level according to the category of the logic circuit being implemented.
US08593167B2	Semiconductor device test method and apparatus, and semiconductor device A method of testing a semiconductor device includes a conductive foreign matter test step of measuring the resistance value between the first and second conductive patterns to determine whether conductive foreign matter is present between the first and second conductive patterns, a first open circuit test step of measuring the resistance value between two points on the first conductive pattern to determine whether there is an open circuit in the first conductive pattern, and a second open circuit test step of measuring the resistance value between two points on the second conductive pattern to determine whether there is an open circuit in the second conductive pattern. The measurement of the resistance value in each of the test steps is accomplished by pressing probes vertically against the first conductive pattern or the second conductive pattern or both.
US08593165B2	Solar generator A solar generator for spacecraft or satellites, including a solar panel, a detector layer, a first evaluation means and a second evaluation means. The solar panel includes a plurality of solar cells. The detector layer includes first conductors substantially in parallel in a first plane and second conductors substantially in parallel in a second plane. The second plane is substantially in parallel to the first plane such that the first conductors are at an angle to the second conductors. The first evaluation means is for detecting a failure of one or more of the plurality of solar cells. The second evaluation means is for testing electrical status of the first conductors and the second conductors to determine whether the failure detected by the first evaluation means was caused by a space object damaging or severing one or more of the first conductors and the second conductors.
US08593163B2	Surface-conforming obscured feature detector A surface-conforming obscured feature detector includes a plurality of sensor plates flexibly connected together, each having a capacitance that varies based on the dielectric constant of the materials that compose the surrounding objects and the proximity of those objects. A sensing circuit is coupled to the sensor plates to measure the capacitances of the sensor plates. A controller is coupled to the sensing circuit to analyze the capacitances measured by the sensing circuit. One or a plurality of indicators are coupled to the controller, and are selectively activated to identify the location of a relative high capacitance, which can be indicative of an obscured feature behind a surface.
US08593159B2	Switching configuration for determining the capacitance of a capacitive sensor element A circuit arrangement for determining a capacitance of a capacitive sensor element (C1) includes a square-wave voltage source (10) which is designed to output a square-wave voltage (UR) at an output connection (11), a sensor branch via which the square-wave voltage is applied to the sensor element, and an amplifier branch including a negative feedback resistor (R1), a transistor (T1) and an evaluation capacitor (C2), the negative feedback resistor, the transistor and the evaluation capacitor being looped-in in series between the output connection of the square-wave voltage source and a reference potential (GND), and a voltage (UOUT), which is a measure of the capacitance of the sensor element, being applied to the evaluation capacitor.
US08593155B2	MEMS in-plane resonators MEMS in-plane resonators include a substrate wafer, at least one resonant mass supported by the substrate wafer and configured to resonate substantially in-plane, and at least one transducer coupled to the at least one resonant mass for at least one of driving and sensing in-plane movement of the at least one resonant mass, wherein at least part of one surface of the resonant mass is configured for exposure to an external environment and wherein the at least one transducer is isolated from the external environment. Such MEMS in-plane resonators may be fabricated using conventional surface micromachining techniques and high-volume wafer fabrication processes and may be configured for liquid applications (e.g., viscometry, densitometry, chemical/biological sensing), gas sensing (e.g., where a polymer film is added to the sensor surface, further degrading the damping performance), or other applications.
US08593151B2	Inductive monitoring of a power transmission line of an electrical network A method includes inductively coupling an electrical sensor to a transmission line associated with a node of an electrical network, and capturing power transmission information associated with the node through the electrical sensor. The method also includes communicating, through an electrical sensing device including the electrical sensor, information associated with a location of a power outage and/or a sub-optimal performance in the node to a processing node and/or a central control node associated with the electrical network.
US08593150B2	Method and apparatus for detecting a location of ground faults in a motor/motor drive combination A motor drive system provides for analysis of current flow in the DC bus to identify ground faults and their locations. Low-frequency positive polarity and negative polarity current differences indicate ground faults from the positive DC bus and negative DC bus respectively. High-frequency signals indicate ground faults in the motor windings and connecting leads.
US08593149B2	Method and circuits for short-circuit protection of LED systems An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for detection of short circuit conditions in an LED array having one or more LED strings, each of which includes one or more LED devices. The method includes determining a minimum voltage that is the lowest of voltages associated with cathode terminals of the one or more LED strings. The method also includes determining if said minimum voltage is between a lower limit voltage and an upper voltage limit. If said minimum voltage is between the lower limit voltage and the upper voltage limit, then a result of a short circuit testing can be considered valid. Here, the short circuit testing includes comparing a sampled voltage associated with a cathode voltage of one of the LED strings with a short-circuit reference voltage.
US08593148B2	System and method of testing high brightness LED (HBLED) A system and method of testing High Brightness LED (HBLED) is provided, and more particularly, a system and method of Controlled Energy Testing of HBLED with improved accuracy and repeatability is provided.
US08593145B2	Magnetic resonance system with cooling system and monitoring of helium pressure A magnetic resonance examination system includes a main magnet with superconducting coils to generate a main magnetic field and a gradient system to apply a gradient magnetic field superposed on the main magnetic field. A cooling system cools the superconducting coils to below their critical superconductivity temperature. A transfer monitor assesses the transfer of energy from the gradient system to the cooling system. The transfer monitor is configured to measure pressure changes in the cooling system. This leads to a simple manner of evaluating the transfer of energy from the gradient coils into the cooling system.
US08593144B2	Magnet array A magnet array is disclosed which is suitable for inter alia producing a remote field for use in unilateral magnetic resonance. In the “Magnet Array”, two separated magnets, which are magnetized along a substantially same collinear magnetization direction, produce a field with a local maximum centered above and between them. The field produced by the two separated magnets is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets. A third magnet is centered between the two separated magnets. The third magnet has a magnetization direction which is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets. The third magnet produces a field which is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets, and adds to the increasing field below the local maximum point produced by the two separated magnets. The field of the third magnet, which decays with distance, adds to the increasing field below the local maximum point. The position of the third magnet is selected in order to generate a total field which has at least one of its first and second spatial derivatives with respect to the distance above the magnet array substantially equal to zero.
US08593143B2	MRI apparatus An MRI apparatus including a magnetic structure defining a cavity for receiving a body under examination or a part thereof, a mechanism for generating a magnetic field inside the cavity, a mechanism for causing the body under examination or a part thereof to emit nuclear magnetic resonance signals, and a mechanism for receiving the nuclear magnetic resonance signals. The mechanism for generating the magnetic field includes one or more elements made of permanently magnetized material of the so-called superconducting bulk material type and, in combination therewith, a mechanism for keeping the magnetization condition of the superconducting bulk material which includes mechanisms for maintaining the temperature of the permanently magnetized material below the critical temperature thereof and for restoring the magnetization of the superconducting bulk material upon a complete or partial demagnetization.
US08593142B2	Automated fiber tracking of human brain white matter using diffusion tensor imaging A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising: a MRI scanner; a signal processing system in communication with the magnetic resonance imaging scanner to receive magnetic resonance (MR) signals for forming magnetic resonance images of a subject under observations; a data storage unit in communication with the signal processing system, wherein the data storage unit contains database data corresponding to a soft tissue region of the subject under observation. The database data includes information identifying at least one soft tissue substructure encompassed by the soft tissue region of the subject under observation. The signal processing system is adapted to process MR signals received from the MRI scanner to automatically identify at least one soft tissue substructure encompassed by the soft tissue region of the subject under observation.
US08593140B2	Formation testing and evaluation using localized injection Evaluating a formation by lowering a downhole tool in a wellbore penetrating the formation, injecting a fluid into the formation at an injection zone via the downhole tool, and using a formation evaluation sensor to perform a measurement at each of a plurality of locations in the wellbore each proximate the injection zone. At least two of the plurality of measurements are compared, and a formation property is determined based on the comparison.
US08593139B2	Magnetic sensor A magnetic sensor includes a spin valve-type magneto-resistive element, a voltage detection part, a coil, and a current control part, the coil being configured to apply a measuring magnetic field to the spin valve-type magneto-resistive element upon application of a current, the voltage detection part being configured to output a detection signal to the current control part upon detecting an output voltage of the spin valve-type magneto-resistive element reaching a predetermined voltage value, the current control part being configured to control the current to unidirectionally increase or unidirectionally decrease a strength of the measuring magnetic field from an initial value, but upon input of the detection signal, control the current to return the strength of the measuring magnetic field to the initial value, the initial value being a magnetic field strength where the spin valve-type magneto-resistive element reaches saturation magnetization.
US08593137B2	Eddy current sensor and eddy current measurement method An eddy current sensor that includes: a probe and a computing unit. The probe has an exciting portion and a detecting portion. The exciting portion includes a first excitation coil that is wound around a non-magnetic bobbin so that a center axis direction is oriented in an x-axis direction and a second excitation coil that is wound around the non-magnetic bobbin to intersect with the first excitation coil so that a center axis direction is oriented in a y-axis direction. The detecting portion includes a detection coil that is arranged at the lower one of two intersecting portions of the first excitation coil and the second excitation coil. An eddy current measurement method for determining the thickness of a hardened layer.
US08593134B2	Current sensor A current sensor includes first to fourth magneto-resistive elements each having a resistance value; and a compensation current line applying a compensation magnetic field to the magneto-resistive elements. A bridge circuit is formed by the magneto-resistive elements. Resistance values of the first and third magneto-resistive elements change together in one increasing/decreasing direction. Resistance values of the second and fourth magneto-resistive elements change together in the other increasing/decreasing direction. The compensation current is generated by a potential difference between the first and second junctions in response to application of voltage between the third and fourth junctions. The compensation current line includes first to fourth line portions. Each line portion extends in the same direction as the extending direction of the magneto-resistive elements, overlaps the corresponding magneto-resistive elements, and. The current-to-be-detected is detected based on the compensation current.
US08593132B2	Parameter calculating apparatus and simulation apparatus A parameter calculating apparatus includes a signal generator that generates at least two input signals which each contain different frequency components; a signal inputting unit that inputs the input signals generated by the signal generator to respective ports of a test object at the same time; a frequency component deconstructing unit that deconstructs an output signal which is obtained by synthesizing the input signals input by the signal inputting unit and output from an output port into the frequency components; and a parameter calculator that calculates parameters which indicate transfer coefficients among ports of the test object based on output values of the frequency components obtained via the deconstruction performed by the frequency component deconstructing unit and on input values of the frequency components of the input signals input at the same time to a plurality of ports.
US08593130B2	Detector, physical quantity measuring device, and electronic apparatus A detector is provided that detects a detection signal corresponding to a driving vibration, which excites a vibrator in an oscillation loop, and a physical quantity to be measured. The detector includes an amplifying circuit, a synchronous detection circuit, an impedance conversion circuit, a first low pass filter, and a second low pass filter, wherein each of the first and second low pass filters is formed by a switched capacitor filter circuit, a gain of the first low pass filter is different from that of the second low pass filter.
US08593128B2	Stacked NMOS DC-to-DC power conversion Another embodiment includes a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator includes a series switch element connected between a first voltage supply and a common node, the series switch element comprising an NMOS series switching transistor, a shunt switch element connected between the common node and a second voltage supply, the shunt switch element comprising an NMOS shunt switching transistor. The voltage regulator further includes means for closing the series switch element during a first period by applying a switching gate voltage to a gate of the NMOS series switch transistor of the series switch element, wherein the switching gate voltage has a voltage potential of at least a threshold voltage greater than a voltage potential of the common node, means for closing the shunt switch element during a second period, the shunt switch element comprising an NMOS shunt switching transistor.
US08593126B2	Power supply device, control circuit, electronic device and control method for power supply A power supply device that includes a switch circuit to which an input voltage is supplied, a coil coupled between the switch circuit and an output terminal from which an output voltage is outputted. A voltage adding circuit adds a slope voltage to a reference voltage. A control unit compares a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage and the reference voltage and switches the switch circuit at a timing corresponding to a comparison result of the feedback voltage and the reference voltage. A slope adjustment circuit differentiates a current flowing in the coil and adjusts a slope amount of the slope based on a differentiation result of the current.
US08593122B2	Control method for high efficiency buck-boost power converter A buck-boost power converter switches the switches thereof with a novel sequence and extends the switching periods of the switches to reduce the switching loss and conduction loss when the input voltage thereof approaches the output voltage thereof. The influence of the load current of the power converter on the duty thereof is taken into account to switch the power converter between modes at correct time points, so as to prevent the output voltage from being affected by the mode switching.
US08593121B2	Circuit and method for voltage regulator output voltage trimming The present disclosure discloses a voltage regulator including a trimming circuit. The present disclosure also discloses a method for trimming an output voltage of a voltage regulator. In one embodiment the voltage regulator may include a power conversion module, a feedback and trimming module and a control module. The voltage regulator may be able to provide an output voltage that could be regulated to a plurality of output values, the feedback and trimming module may be able to trim the plurality of output values to their desired values successively and independently.
US08593120B2	Voltage regulator A voltage regulator is capable of continuously and smoothly preventing an inrush current independently of a startup characteristic of a reference voltage circuit. The voltage regulator is provided with an inrush current protection circuit composed of a constant-current circuit, a first transistor having the source thereof connected to the constant-current circuit and the gate thereof controlled by an output voltage detection circuit, a capacitor connected between the first transistor and the gate of an output transistor, a second transistor having the gate thereof connected to the drain of the first transistor and the source thereof connected to a power supply terminal, and a third transistor, which is connected between the second transistor and the output transistor and the gate of which is controlled by the output voltage detection circuit.
US08593114B2	Control device for doubly-fed induction generator in which feedback linearization method is embedded The present invention relates to a control device for a doubly-fed induction generator in which a feedback linearization method is enabled and further provides a control device for a doubly-fed induction generator in which a feedback linearization method is embedded, characterized in that the control device divides and measures positive sequency components and negative sequency components from stator voltage and current, rotor voltage and current, and signals of stator magnetic flux and rotor magnetic flux of the doubly-fed induction generator.
US08593106B2	Dual-chargeable battery pack in a power supply A dual-chargeable battery pack in a power supply is disclosed. The dual-chargeable battery pack comprises a main body provided with an electrical energy storage device, a first connecting device and a second connecting device. The first connecting device comprises a first charging terminal set and a first power output terminal set, wherein the first charging terminal set is configured to receive an input of a first power for outputting to the electrical energy storage device. The second connecting device comprises a second charging terminal set which is configured to receive an input of a second power for outputting to the electrical energy storage device. The electrical energy storage device is configured to output the electrical energy accumulated therein as a third power through the first power output terminal set. The second power is different than the first power.
US08593105B2	System and method for inductively charging a battery An inductive charging system for recharging a battery. The system includes a charger circuit and a secondary circuit. The secondary circuit includes a feedback mechanism to provide feedback to the charger circuit through the inductive coupling of the primary coil and the secondary coil. The charger circuit includes a frequency control mechanism for controlling the frequency of the power applied to the primary coil at least partly in response to the feedback from the feedback mechanism.
US08593104B2	Power source for starting engines of vehicles and the like A reserve power source for charging a device, such as a depleted power source or a vehicle. The reserve power source including: a reserve battery which requires activation to produce power, such as a thermal battery or a liquid reserve battery; an activator for activating the reserve power upon one of an electrical or mechanical activation; and a pair of terminals operatively connected to the reserve battery for outputting the produced power. The reserve power source can also include a cable connected to each of the pair of terminals for connecting outputting the produced power to the depleted power source and/or conditioning circuitry for conditioning the produced power prior to output at the terminals. The reserve battery can also include a stop for preventing the activator from activating the reserve power source, where the stop is selectively removable when activation is desired.
US08593102B2	Portable, self-sustaining power station A self-sustaining, portable, power station that may be moved by land, air, or sea to an area that has no utilities. The station is provided with solar panel arrays in communication with at least one electrical distribution and storage means. The derived electricity is used to power various systems including, albeit not limited to, a communications system, a water filtration system, a water distribution system to allow the public to draw potable water and provide basic hygiene. The electricity derived may also be used to run outside systems, such as schools, hospitals, or the like. The solar panel arrays are mounted on roller assemblies that can be easily slide between a stowed and deployed condition. The solar arrays include a plurality of solar panels that are supported by one or more hydraulic actuators to counter balance the weight of the solar panel whereby the solar panel can be easily positioned into the desired tilted orientation.
US08593097B2	Seat adjusting device A seat adjusting device for an automobile seat (1) having an electric motor (11) for generating a drive motion, wherein the electric motor is operationally coupled to a gearbox (13) for transmitting the drive motion thereof, the gearbox having a gearbox housing (19) in which gearbox elements are disposed for a step-up or step-down transmission of the motor drive motion, by means of which electric motors of lesser technical complexity can be used than previously. To this end, the invention proposes that the gearbox (13) has detection device for detecting information about the speed of at least one of the gearbox elements or detecting a variable dependent on the speed.
US08593093B2	Electric motor control apparatus An electric motor control apparatus capable of controlling a motor normally regardless of failures is obtained without increased cost. The apparatus includes a position sensor failure determination unit which outputs a failure determination signal, and generates a first phase; a motor rotation speed calculator which operates based on the failure determination signal and position sensor signals; a phase command generator producing a phase command based on the first phase, the failure determination signal and rotation speed; an amplitude command generator that generates an amplitude command indicating magnitude of a driving signal for the motor, and an electrical energization unit that applies the driving signal to the motor based on the phase command and the amplitude command. Upon failure of a position sensor, the phase command generator generates the phase command using the first phase, and a second phase obtained based on the first phase and the rotation speed.
US08593092B2	Control system for multiphase electric rotating machine A control system controls a multiphase rotating machine by a 120° energization process and a PWM process. In the 120° energization process, respective ones of switching elements of a high side arm and switching elements of a low side arm of a power conversion circuit are turned on. In the PWM process, the switching elements of the power conversion circuit turn on/off so that two phases that are connected to the switching elements that are in the on-state are alternately rendered conductive to the high potential side input terminal and the low potential side input terminal of the power conversion circuit.
US08593089B2	Motor driving apparatus and method There are provided a motor driving apparatus and method. The motor driving apparatus includes: a speed detecting unit detecting a rotation speed of a motor according to an edge of a hall signal, and counting a preset clock signal while allocating a weighted value thereto according to a preset reference count value at the time of counting the clock signal based on the detected speed; a position calculating unit calculating a rotation position of the motor according to a count value of the speed detecting unit; and a driving unit driving the motor according to position information of the motor calculated by the position calculating unit.
US08593088B2	Method and system for controlling an electric motor for a vehicle A system and method for calibrating an interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor with an optimized maximum torque per ampere trajectory curve. The system and method use a real-time particle swarm technique that requires less known parameters than standard maximum torque per ampere trajectory techniques.
US08593085B2	Device for charging accumulator means The present invention relates to an electrical device for charging accumulator means (5), said electrical device comprising: a motor (6) connected to an external mains (11); an inverter (2) connected to the phases of said motor (6); and switching means (4) integrated into the inverter (2), said switching means (4) being configured to permit said motor (6) to be supplied and to permit the accumulator means (5) to be charged by the inverter (2). According to the invention, said electrical device further includes, for each phase of said motor (6), an RLC low-pass filter (18) connected, on the one hand, to the mid-point (16) of the phase of said motor (6) and, on the other hand, to ground.
US08593084B2	Auxiliary power supply device and electric power steering device An auxiliary power supply device that can always supply stable auxiliary power at the time of using an auxiliary power source and an electric power steering device employing the auxiliary power supply device are provided. In the auxiliary power supply device including a discharge circuit selectively constituting a state where a motor is supplied with power from only a battery and a state where the motor is supplied with power from a power source in which an auxiliary power source is connected in series to the battery by PWM control, when the power consumption of the battery is greater than an upper limit, a control circuit is provided which controls the power consumption to return to the upper limit by performing an electric power feedback control using a duty as an amount of operation at the time of turning on and off switching elements by a PWM control on the basis of the difference.
US08593083B2	System, method and portable controller for programming and calibration of a plurality of light source units for photo-reactive/curing applications A system, method, and portable or mobile controller are provided for network management of functions such as monitoring, control, programming, and calibration of a plurality of (UV) light sources, for photo-reactive and photo-curing applications. Beneficially, a reliable and controlled closed-loop feedback network is provided in which a dose of light, or exposure profile, for e.g. spot curing, can be programmed into a light source unit to perform a highly repeatable operation across a single or multiple work stations. The system is scalable up to 1000's of workstations.
US08593082B2	System and method for adjusting color temperature A color temperature adjusting system includes a processing unit, a constant-current drive unit, and an light emitting unit (LED) unit including two unmatched LED modules with different basic color temperatures. A table records a relationship between coefficient values and current values for the current(s) flowing through the two LED modules. The processing unit selects one of a number of predetermined formulas to calculate the coefficient value by comparing a desired value with a threshold value, and further determines the current values according to the calculated coefficient value listed in a table. The constant-current drive unit includes two drive module generating modulating signals to adjust the respective values of the current flowing through the two LED modules to match the determined current values, thereby adjusting the color temperature value of the LED unit to the desired level. A related method is also provided.
US08593080B2	Ignition control apparatus used in electronic ballast and method thereof The present invention is generally related to an electronic ballast, an ignition control apparatus used therein and associated method of operation. In one embodiment, an electronic ballast comprising an inverter and an ignition control apparatus which comprises a stability monitoring circuit and a controlled ignition circuit. The inverter converts a DC input voltage into an AC voltage to drive a gas discharge lamp. The stability monitoring circuit monitors whether the DC input voltage is stable. The controlled ignition circuit is electrically coupled to the stability monitoring circuit and the lamp, ignites the lamp based on the monitoring result. The controlled ignition circuit does not ignite the gas discharge lamp until the DC input voltage becomes stable.
US08593076B2	Electronic dimming ballast having advanced boost converter control An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp includes a power converter for generating a DC bus voltage, where the bus voltage is controlled to different magnitudes during different operating modes of the ballast. The ballast comprises a control circuit that is coupled to the power converter for adjusting the magnitude of the bus voltage to a first magnitude when the lamp is off, to a second magnitude when preheating filaments of the lamp, and to a third magnitude when the lamp is on. The control circuit is also operable to preemptively adjust the magnitude of the bus voltage prior to changing modes of operation. For example, when turning the load on, the control circuit first adjusts a power-conversion-drive level of the power converter to begin adjusting the magnitude of the bus voltage towards a predetermined magnitude, and then waits for a predetermined time period before attempting to turn the load on.
US08593075B1	Constant current controller with selectable gain A power distribution system includes a selectable gain value to generate a duty cycle modulated control signal to control current supplied to a load. In at least one embodiment, the power distribution system includes a controller and a switch, and the controller generates the duty cycle modulated control signal to control conductivity of the switch. The duty cycle modulated control signal has a period and a pulse width. In at least one embodiment, the controller determines the period of the control signal as a function of a peak allowable link current value (also referred to as a peak allowable output current value) of a switching power converter, an inductor flyback time of the switching power converter, and the gain value. The link current provides current to a load, such as a lighting system that includes light emitting diodes.
US08593073B2	Apparatus and methods for interactive illumination In illustrative implementations of this invention, a lighting system comprises a plurality of LEDs, fluorescent lights, incandescent lights, a processor, a sensor node and a human-computer interface. The sensor is adapted to be moved by a user and placed in the location that a user wants to illumine. The LED lights are adapted to emit pulse-width modulated (PWM) light, controlled by signals from the processor. The lighting system is adapted to optimize parameters (such as efficacy or color rendering index) selected by the user, subject to certain constraints (such as desired illuminance or color temperature). According to principles of this invention, if a sensor is moved, attenuation may be measured and the inverse square law may be used to determine how constraints in an optimization algorithm need to be updated.
US08593072B2	Circuit assembly and method for operating a high pressure discharge lamp A circuit arrangement for operating a high-pressure discharge lamp with an operating circuit for the high-pressure discharge lamp with an input for receiving a switch-on/switch-off signal for the high-pressure discharge lamp and at least one output for providing an operating signal to the high-pressure discharge lamp, wherein the operating circuit is designed to reduce the power of the operating signal provided at the at least one output once a switch-off signal has been received at its input, wherein the operating circuit furthermore designed to provide the operating signal as an AC signal above a predeterminable power threshold value and as a quasi DC signal below the predeterminable power threshold value.
US08593070B2	Three-phase LED power supply A three phase rectifier rectifies received three phase a.c. power to generate a ripple d.e. voltage. A power distribution bus conveys distribution power comprising the ripple d.c. voltage or an a.c. voltage derived therefrom to a location of an LED based lamp that is distal from the three phase rectifier. Additional circuitry disposed with the LED based lamp drives the LED based lamp using the distribution power.
US08593062B2	Color stable phosphors for LED lamps and methods for preparing them An LED lamp includes a light source configured to emit radiation with a peak intensity at a wavelength between about 250 nm and about 550 nm; and a phosphor composition configured to be radiationally coupled to the light source. The phosphor composition includes particles of a phosphor of formula I, said particles having a coating composition disposed on surfaces thereof; ((Sr1-zMz)1-(x+w)AwCex)3(Al1-ySiy)O4+y+3(x−w)F1-y-3(x−w) I wherein the coating composition comprises a material selected from aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, barium oxide, strontium oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, zinc hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, magnesium phosphate, calcium phosphate, barium phosphate, strontium phosphate, and combinations thereof; and A is Li, Na, K, or Rb, or a combination thereof; M is Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn, or a combination thereof; and 0
US08593058B2	Organic light-emitting display device An organic light-emitting display device includes an anode electrode, an organic layer on the anode electrode, the organic layer having an emission layer, and a cathode electrode on the organic layer through which light emitted from the emission layer of the organic layer passes, wherein a thickness of the cathode electrode in a first region is different from a thickness of the cathode electrode in a second region.
US08593055B2	Substrate bearing an electrode, organic light-emitting device incorporating it, and its manufacture A substrate bearing, on one main face, a composite electrode, which includes an electroconductive network formed from strands made of an electroconductive material based on a metal and/or a metal oxide, and having a light transmission of at least 60% at 550 nm, the space between the strands of the network being filled by a material referred to as an insulating fill material. The composite electrode also includes an electroconductive coating covering the electroconductive network, and in electrical connection with the strands and in contact therewith, having a thickness greater than or equal to 40 nm, of resistivity ρ1 less than 105 Ω·cm and greater than the resistivity of the network, the coating forming a smoothed outer surface of the electrode. The composite electrode additionally has a sheet resistance less than or equal to 10Ω/□.
US08593053B2	Display device in which a sub-pixel has a plurality of apertures and electronic apparatus including the display device A display device includes: plural sub-pixels included in a main pixel, emitting light of different colors respectively; at least three apertures arranged so as to be aligned along one direction in the sub-pixel; and an aperture defining portion defining aperture lengths so that an aperture length of an aperture other than apertures at both edge portions along the one direction is longer than an aperture length of apertures at both edge portions along the one direction in the at least three apertures.
US08593052B1	Microelectrode array and method for modifying carbon nanotube electrode interface of the same array The present invention discloses a method for modifying a carbon nanotube electrode interface, which modifies carbon nanotubes used as a neuron-electrode interface by performing three stages of modifications and comprises the steps of: carboxylating carbon nanotubes to provide carboxyl functional groups and improve the hydrophilicity of the carbon nanotubes; acyl-chlorinating the carboxylated carbon nanotubes to replace the hydroxyl functional groups of the carboxyl functional groups with chlorine atoms; and aminating the acyl-chlorinated carbon nanotubes to replace the chlorine atoms with a derivative having amine functional groups at the terminal thereof. The modified carbon nanotubes used as the neuron-electrode interface has lower impedance and higher adherence to nerve cells. Thus is improved the quality of neural signal measurement. The present invention also discloses a microelectrode array, wherein the neuron-electrode interface uses carbon nanotubes modified according to the method of the present invention.
US08593049B2	Field electron emitter, field electron emission device including the same, and method of manufacturing the field electron emitter A field electron emitter including a metal electrode; and a plurality of carbon nanotubes, wherein a portion of the plurality of carbon nanotubes protrude from a surface of the metal electrode and a portion of the plurality of carbon nanotubes are in the metal electrode. Also disclosed is a field electron emission device including the field electron emitter and a method of manufacturing the field electron emitter.
US08593048B2	Electron source having a tungsten single crystal electrode Provided are an electron source which allows a high-angle current density operation even at a low extraction voltage, and reduces excess current that causes vacuum deterioration; and an electronic device using the electron source. The electron source has a cathode composed of single-crystal tungsten, and a diffusion source provided in the intermediate portion of the cathode. In the cathode, the angle between the axial direction of the cathode and <100> orientation of the cathode is adjusted so that electrons to be emitted from the vicinity of the boundary between surface and surface formed on the tip of the cathode, are emitted substantially parallel to the axis of the cathode. The electronic device is provided with the electron source.
US08593047B2	Field emission unit and pixel tube for field emission display A pixel tube for field emission display includes a sealed container, an anode, a phosphor, and a cathode. The sealed container has a light permeable portion. The anode is located in the sealed container and spaced from the light permeable portion. The phosphor layer is located on the anode. The cathode is spaced from the anode and includes a cathode emitter. The cathode emitter includes a carbon nanotube pipe. One end of the carbon nanotube pipe has a plurality of carbon nanotube peaks.
US08593045B2	Spark plug A spark plug which exhibits improved resistance to high-temperature oxidation of an electrode, and improved resistance to spark-induced erosion of, improved resistance to oxidation of, and improved joining reliability of a tip joined to the electrode. A spark plug has spark members; each of the spark members has a weight of 1.5 mg or more; and a center electrode and a ground electrode contain Ni as a main component, C in an amount of 0.005% by mass to 0.10% by mass, Si in an amount of 1.05% by mass to 3.0% by mass, Mn in an amount of 2.0% by mass or less, Cr in an amount of 20% by mass to 32% by mass, and Fe in an amount of 6% by mass to 16% by mass.
US08593044B2	Modular architecture for sealed LED light engines Apparatus and associated methods involve an assembly of multiple LED light engines in which a desired number of LED lamps are mounted to a plate that forms a wall of an enclosure. In an illustrative example, three LED light engines may be mounted to a plate that may be slidably installed as a wall of an extruded housing that contains electrical connections from an AC power inlet to each light engine. In various examples, the number and layout arrangement of the LED light engines may be custom selected for a particular application.
US08593042B1	LED lamp and heat dissipation device thereof The present invention provides a heat dissipation device, which comprises: a base; plural heat dissipation pipes, wherein each heat dissipation pipe is hollow and formed in an L-like shape, one end thereof passes the base, the other end thereof is received at the bottom of the base; and a heat dissipation plate having a main body, the center of the main body is formed with a chamber having its outer periphery formed with plural heat dissipation grooves, the outer side of the main body is formed with plural wavelike shaped heat dissipation fins. With the aforementioned structure, advantages of smaller in volume, lighter in weight and more efficient in heat dissipation can be achieved.
US08593040B2	LED lamp with surface area enhancing fins A light emitting apparatus comprising an at least substantially omnidirectional light assembly including an LED-based light source within a light-transmissive envelope. Electronics configured to drive the LED-based light source, the electronics being disposed within a base having a blocking angle no larger than 45°. A plurality of heat dissipation elements (such as fins) in thermal communication with the base and extending adjacent the envelope.
US08593036B2	High-efficiency MEMS micro-vibrational energy harvester and process for manufacturing same The present invention relates generally to a High Efficiency MEMS Micro-Vibrational Energy Harvester (μVEH) having a thick beam bimorph architecture. The disclosed architecture is capable of producing a voltage of sufficient magnitude such that the requirement to connect a plurality of harvesters in series to produce an adequate voltage magnitude is eliminated.
US08593032B2	Frame-shaped MEMS piezoresistive resonator A novel Si MEMS piezoresistive resonator is described. The resonator has a shape of a frame, such as a ring or a polygon frame, which has two or more anchors. Electrodes located at the outer or inner rim of the resonant structure are used to excite the structure electrostatically into resonance with a desired mode shape. One or plurality of locally doped regions on the structure is used for piezoresistive readout of the signal. In the most preferred embodiments, the structure is a ring, which has four anchors, two electrodes and four piezoresistive regions at different segments of the structure. The piezoresistive regions are alternatively located at the outer rim and inner rim of the structure in such a way that the piezoresistive signals of the same sign from different regions can be collected. Advantages of this device are large readout signal, large electrode area, robustness, suppressed out-of-plane vibration and larger usable linear range.
US08593029B2	Lundell type rotating machine Provided is a Lundell type rotating machine with high efficiency and high output, which has a rigid and magnetically advantageous magnet retention structure. A rotor iron core includes laminated magnetic-pole members mechanically and magnetically coupled to two laminated magnetic end plates, which extend in an axial direction so as to be brought into meshing engagement with each other to constitute a Lundell type rotor iron core, and permanent magnets provided between the magnetic-pole members. The magnetic-pole members are retained in predetermined positions between the magnetic end plates by dovetail grooves of a non-magnetic retention body over substantially the entire lengths. The permanent magnets are held in direct contact with the magnetic-pole members so as to be interposed therebetween. Thus, the magnet retention structure which is mechanically rigid and magnetically highly efficient even when increased in size can be obtained.
US08593025B2	Driving device, in particular electric motor, for driving a unit A driving device (10) for driving a unit (11) is specified, with a drive shaft (16) on which a plurality of rolling bearings (19 to 21) serving to drive respective functional elements of the unit (11) are arranged next to one another. The rolling bearings (19 to 21) are designed as unencapsulated needle bearings (22 to 24) and are arranged directly next to one another on the drive shaft (16) in such a manner that the inner ring (25, 26) of a needle bearing (22, 23) is in touching contact by means of its end surface (43, 44), which is located on an axial side, with the facing, axial end surface (46, 47) of the outer sleeve (32, 33) of the needle bearing (23, 24) following next axially.
US08593020B2	Electric motor and electric vehicle having the same A motor for an electric vehicle includes a frame, a stator disposed in the frame, a rotor disposed to be rotatable with respect to the stator; and an engaging portion that restricts the stator from moving with respect to the frame in a circumferential direction, the engaging portion including at least one rib protruding from one of the surfaces of the frame and the stator, and at least one rib accommodation portion formed at other of the surfaces of the frame and the stator, wherein the at least one rib and the at least one accommodation portion are engaged to allow heat to be transferred therebetween. Under this configuration, a cooling performance may be improved and durability may be enhanced.
US08593019B2	Structure for linear and rotary electric machines Disclosed herein is a structure for linear and rotary electric machines. The present invention provides a modular mover structure which includes coils that have an electrical phase difference of 180°, so that the path of magnetic flux is shortened, thus reducing the size of the machine and mitigating the back-EMF unbalance. The modular mover structure can be modified into various shapes. For example, when a skew structure is applied to a mover or stator iron core, the force ripples in an electric machine can be reduced. In addition, when a hinge structure is applied to a modular mover iron core, the mover can move in a linear and curved manner. The structure of the present invention can be applied to a rotary electric machine. In this case, because the number of poles is easily increased, a low speed high torque direct drive type rotary electric machine is realized.
US08593015B2	Battery balancing system A battery system comprises a first battery unit; a DC voltage bus; a second battery unit electrically connected to the DC voltage bus; a current-limiting component; and switching circuitry for connecting the first battery unit to the DC voltage bus, where the switching circuitry is configured to electrically connect the first battery unit to the DC voltage bus either directly or through a current-limiting component, depending on an operating parameter of the first battery unit.
US08593004B2	Apparatus for producing electric or mechanical energy from wave motion The invention concerns an apparatus for generating power, in particular electric energy, from wave motion in water basins. It comprises at least an operating unit, including gearing provided for unidirectional rotation and to continuously operate at least one power generator in response to the movements of a control element susceptible to alternating linear movements deriving from the wave motion. Each operating unit comprises at least a main or driving shaft (11, 12; 11b) solidly carrying a driving wheel (13, 14; 13b) engaged and placed in rotation by said linear control element (15, 15b) and at least two driven shafts (21, 22; 21b, 22b) operated by the main shaft through a unidirectional drive mechanism (20, 20b) and each connectable to at least a power generator.
US08593001B2	Patterned semiconductor bases Some embodiments include patterning methods. First and second masking features may be formed over first and second regions of a semiconductor base, respectively. A protective mask may be formed over the second masking features. First and second spacers may be formed along sidewall edges of the first masking features and along lateral edges of the protective mask, respectively. The protective mask and the first masking features may be removed without removing the second masking features, without removing the first spacers, and without removing the second spacers. The first spacers may be third masking features that are at a tighter pitch than the first masking features. Patterns of the second masking features and the third masking features may be transferred into the semiconductor base. Some embodiments include patterned semiconductor bases.
US08592999B2	Semiconductor chip and method for fabricating the same A semiconductor chip includes a first main face and a second main face opposed to the first main face. Side faces connect the first and second main faces. The side faces are at least partially covered with an anti-EBO compound and/or a surface energy reducing compound.
US08592998B2	Thin film wafer level package Anchor designs for thin film packages are disclosed that, in a preferred embodiment are a combination of SiGe-filled trenches and Si-oxide-filled spacing. Depending on the release process, additional manufacturing process steps are performed in order to obtain a desired mechanical strength. For aggressive release processes, additional soft sputter etch and a Ti—TiN interlayer in the anchor region may be added. The ratio of the total SiGe—SiGe anchor area to the SiO2—SiGe anchor area determines the mechanical strength of the anchor. If this ratio is larger than 1, the thin film package reaches the MIL-standard requirements.
US08592995B2	Method and structure for adhesion of intermetallic compound (IMC) on Cu pillar bump A method and structure for good adhesion of Intermetallic Compounds (IMC) on Cu pillar bumps are provided. The method includes depositing Cu to form a Cu pillar layer, depositing a diffusion barrier layer on top of the Cu pillar layer, and depositing a Cu cap layer on top of the diffusion barrier layer, where an intermetallic compound (IMC) is formed among the diffusion barrier layer, the Cu cap layer, and a solder layer placed on top of the Cu cap layer. The IMC has good adhesion on the Cu pillar structure, the thickness of the IMC is controllable by the thickness of the Cu cap layer, and the diffusion barrier layer limits diffusion of Cu from the Cu pillar layer to the solder layer. The method can further include depositing a thin layer for wettability on top of the diffusion barrier layer prior to depositing the Cu cap layer.
US08592990B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes: a first porous layer that is formed over a substrate and includes a SiO2 skeleton; a second porous layer that is formed immediately above the first porous layer and includes a SiO2 skeleton; a via wiring that is provided in the first porous layer; and a trench wiring that is buried in the second porous layer. The first porous layer has a pore density x1 of 40% or below and the second porous layer has a pore density x2 of (x1+5) % or above.
US08592988B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device may include a substrate and a through electrode. The substrate may have a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the substrate including circuit patterns formed on the first surface. The through electrode penetrates the substrate and may be electrically connected to the circuit pattern, the through electrode including a first plug that extends from the first surface in a thickness direction of the substrate and a second plug that extends from the second surface in the thickness direction of the substrate so as to be connected to the first plug.
US08592986B2	High melting point soldering layer alloyed by transient liquid phase and fabrication method for the same, and semiconductor device A high melting point soldering layer includes a low melting point metal layer, a first high melting point metal layer disposed on a surface of the low melting point metal layer, and a second high melting point metal layer disposed at a back side of the low melting point metal layer. The low melting point metal layer, the first high melting point metal layer, and the second high melting point metal layer are mutually alloyed by transient liquid phase bonding, by annealing not less than a melting temperature of the low melting point metal layer, diffusing the metal of the low melting point metal layer into an alloy of the first high melting point metal layer and the second high melting point metal layer. The high melting point soldering layer has a higher melting point temperature than that of the low melting point metal layer. It is provided a binary based high melting point soldering layer having TLP bonding of a high melting point according to a low temperature processing, a fabrication method for the high melting point soldering layer and a semiconductor device to which the high melting point soldering layer is applied.
US08592984B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit device and method of manufacturing the same To suppress peeling of an Au pad for external coupling provided in a rewiring containing Cu as a main component. On the surface of a rewiring including a two-layer film in which a first Ni film is laminated on the top of a Cu film, a pad to which a wire is coupled is formed. The pad includes a two-layer film in which an Au film is laminated on the top of a second Ni film and formed integrally so as to cover the top surface and the side surface of the rewiring. Due to this, the area of contact between the rewiring and the pad increases, and therefore, the pad becomes difficult to be peeled off from the rewiring.
US08592980B2	Carbon nanotube-modified low-K materials An interconnect structure for use in an integrated circuit is provided. The interconnect structure includes a first low-K dielectric material. The first low-K material may be modified with a first group of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and disposed on a metal line. The first low-K material is modified by dispersing the first group of CNTs in a solution, spinning the solution onto a silicon wafer and curing the solution to form the first low-K material modified with the first CNTs. The metal line includes a top layer and a bottom layer connected by a metal via. The interconnect structure also includes a second low-K dielectric material modified with a second group of CNTs and disposed on the bottom layer. Accordingly, embodiments the present disclosure could help to increase the mechanical strength of the low-K material or the entire interconnect structure.
US08592977B2	Integrated circuit (IC) chip and method for fabricating the same A method for fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) chip includes providing a passivation layer over a circuit structure, an opening in the passivation layer exposing a pad of the circuit structure, next forming a first titanium-containing layer over the pad exposed by the opening, next performing an annealing process by heating the titanium-containing layer at a temperature of between 300 and 410° C. for a time of between 20 and 150 minutes in a nitrogen ambient with a nitrogen purity of great than 99%, next forming a second titanium-containing layer on the first titanium-containing layer, and then forming a metal layer on the second titanium-containing layer.
US08592975B2	Semiconductor device and method of dual-molding die formed on opposite sides of build-up interconnect structure A semiconductor device has a first interconnect structure. A first semiconductor die has an active surface oriented towards and mounted to a first surface of the first interconnect structure. A first encapsulant is deposited over the first interconnect structure and first semiconductor die. A second semiconductor die has an active surface oriented towards and mounted to a second surface of the first interconnect structure opposite the first surface. A plurality of first conductive pillars is formed over the second surface of the first interconnect structure and around the second semiconductor die. A second encapsulant is deposited over the second semiconductor die and around the plurality of first conductive pillars. A second interconnect structure including a conductive layer and bumps are formed over the second encapsulant and electrically connect to the plurality of first conductive pillars and the first and second semiconductor die.
US08592971B2	Direct semiconductor contact ebullient cooling package The semiconductor package as well as a method for making it and using it is disclosed. The semiconductor package comprises a semiconductor chip having at least one heat-generating semiconductor device and a volumetrically expandable chamber disposed to sealingly surround the semiconductor chip, the volumetrically expandable chamber filled entirely with a non-electrically conductive liquid in contact with the semiconductor device and circulated within the volumetrically expandable chamber at least in part by the generated heat of the at least one semiconductor device to cool the at least one semiconductor device.
US08592964B2	Apparatus and method for high density multi-chip structures Devices and methods are described including a multi-chip assembly. Embodiments of multi-chip assemblies are provided that uses both lateral connection structures and through chip connection structures. One advantage of this design includes an increased number of possible connections. Another advantage of this design includes shorter distances for interconnection pathways, which improves device performance and speed.
US08592963B2	Self-aligning structures and method for integrated chips A lead frame having a die thereon connects a conductive area on the die to a lead frame contact using a conductive clip that includes a structural portion that is received with a recess-like “tub” formed in the lead frame contact. The end of the clip received in the tub is held in place during subsequent handling by a solder paste deposit until the clip and leadframe undergo solder reflow to effect a reliable electrical connection. The effective surface area between one side of the clip and the other side of the clip within the tub is different so that the surface tension of the liquefied solder formed during the solder reflow step will “draw” the clip into a preferred alignment against a “stop” surface.
US08592957B2	Semiconductor device having shield layer and chip-side power supply terminal capacitively coupled therein Provided is a semiconductor device including a wiring board having a first surface on which a board-side ground terminal and a board-side power supply terminal are provided; a semiconductor chip arranged so as to face the first surface of the wiring board, where the first surface faces an opposite surface of the semiconductor chip; a shield layer provided at the semiconductor chip so as to cover an outer surface of the semiconductor chip except for the opposite surface; a chip-side power supply terminal which is provided on the opposite surface and is electrically connected to the board-side power supply terminal; a chip-side ground terminal which is provided on the opposite surface and is electrically connected to the board-side ground terminal and the shield layer; and a first capacitively coupled part by which the shield layer and the chip-side power supply terminal are capacitively coupled with each other.
US08592952B2	Semiconductor chip and semiconductor package with stack chip structure A semiconductor chip and semiconductor package with stack chip structure include align patterns. The align patterns are formed of magnetic materials having opposite polarities on the top and bottom of the semiconductor chip. Thus, when the plurality of chips are stacked on the substrate in order for the packaging, the semiconductor chips may be exactly aligned by the magnetic force between the align patterns of the vertically stacked chips. The semiconductor package includes a plurality of stacked semiconductor chips and a filling material. Each of the stacked semiconductor chips includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein a circuit pattern such as a bonding pad is formed on the first surface, and a first align pattern formed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first align pattern is formed of a magnetic material.
US08592950B2	Semiconductor device and method of forming through vias with reflowed conductive material A semiconductor device is made by providing a first semiconductor wafer having semiconductor die. A gap is made between the semiconductor die. An insulating material is deposited in the gap. A portion of the insulating material is removed to form a first through hole via (THV). A conductive lining is conformally deposited in the first THV. A solder material is disposed above the conductive lining of the first THV. A second semiconductor wafer having semiconductor die is disposed over the first wafer. A second THV is formed in a gap between the die of the second wafer. A conductive lining is conformally deposited in the second THV. A solder material is disposed above the second THV. The second THV is aligned to the first THV. The solder material is reflowed to form the conductive vias within the gap. The gap is singulated to separate the semiconductor die.
US08592949B2	Method of texturing the surface of a silicon substrate, and textured silicon substrate for a solar cell The invention relates to a method for texturing the surface of a gaseous phase silicon substrate, and to a textured silicon substrate for a solar cell. The method includes at least a step a) of exposing the surface to an SF6/O2 radiofrequency plasma for a duration of 2 to 30 minutes in order to produce a silicon substrate having a textured surface having pyramidal structures, the SF6/O2 ratio being 2 to 10. During step a) the power density generated using the radiofrequency plasma is greater than or equal to 2500 mW/cm2, and the SF6/O2 pressure in the reaction chamber is lower than or equal to 100 mTorrs, so as to produce a silicon substrate having a textured surface having inverted pyramidal structures.
US08592948B2	Substrate, epitaxial layer provided substrate, method for producing substrate, and method for producing epitaxial layer provided substrate The present invention provides a substrate formed at a low cost and having a controlled plate shape, an epitaxial layer provided substrate obtained by forming an epitaxial layer on the substrate, and methods for producing them. The method for producing the substrate according to the present invention includes an ingot growing step serving as a step of preparing an ingot formed of gallium nitride (GaN); and a slicing step serving as a step of obtaining a substrate formed of gallium nitride, by slicing the ingot. In the slicing step, the substrate thus obtained by the slicing has a main surface with an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of not less than 0.05 μm and not more than 1 μm on a line of 10 mm.
US08592945B2	Large dimension device and method of manufacturing same in gate last process An integrated circuit device and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In an example, integrated circuit device includes a capacitor having a doped region disposed in a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer disposed over the doped region, and an electrode disposed over the dielectric layer. At least one post feature embedded in the electrode.
US08592943B2	Symmetrical center tap inductor structure An inductor structure implemented within a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) can include a coil of conductive material that includes a center terminal located at a midpoint of a length of the coil. The coil can be symmetrical with respect to a centerline bisecting the center terminal. The coil can include a first differential terminal and a second differential terminal each located at an end of the coil and opposite the center terminal. The inductor structure can include an isolation ring surrounding the coil. In some cases, the inductor structure can include a return line of conductive material positioned on the center line.
US08592941B2	Fuse structure having crack stop void, method for forming and programming same, and design structure The disclosure relates generally to fuse structures, methods of forming and programming the same, and more particularly to fuse structures having crack stop voids. The fuse structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a dielectric layer thereon and a crack stop void. The dielectric layer includes at least one fuse therein and the crack stop void is adjacent to two opposite sides of the fuse, and extends lower than a bottom surface and above a top surface of the fuse. The disclosure also relates to a design structure of the aforementioned.
US08592940B2	Topography based patterning A mask having features formed by self-organizing material, such as diblock copolymers, is formed on a partially fabricated integrated circuit. A copolymer template, or seed layer, is formed on the surface of the partially fabricated integrated circuit. To form the seed layer, diblock copolymers, composed of two immiscible blocks, are deposited in the space between copolymer alignment guides. The copolymers self-organize, with the guides guiding the self-organization and with each block aggregating with other blocks of the same type, thereby forming the seed layer. Supplemental diblock copolymers are deposited over the seed layer. The copolymers in the seed layer guide self-organization of the supplemental copolymers, thereby vertically extending the pattern formed by the copolymers in the seed layer. Block species are subsequently selectively removed to form a pattern of voids defined by the remaining block species, which form a mask that can be used to pattern an underlying substrate.
US08592937B2	Pyroelectric detector, pyroelectric detection device, and electronic instrument A pyroelectric detector includes a substrate, a support member and a pyroelectric detection element, which includes a capacitor, first and second reducing gas barrier layers, an insulating layer, a plug and a second electrode wiring layer. The first reducing gas barrier layer covers at least a second electrode and a pyroelectric body of the capacitor, and has a first opening that overlaps the second electrode in plan view. The insulating layer covers at least the first reducing gas barrier layer, and has a second opening that overlaps the first opening in plan view. The plug is disposed in the first and second openings and connected to the second electrode. The second electrode wiring layer is formed on the insulating layer and connected to the plug. The second reducing gas barrier layer is formed on the insulating layer and the second electrode wiring layer and covers at least the plug.
US08592931B2	Photoelectric conversion element and solid-state imaging device A photoelectric conversion element is provided and includes: a pair of electrodes; a photoelectric conversion layer between the pair of electrodes; and a charge-blocking layer between one of the pair of the electrodes and the photoelectric conversion layer. The charge-blocking layer is capable of suppressing injection of a charge from the one of the pair of electrodes into the photoelectric conversion layer upon application of a voltage across the pair of electrodes, and the charge-blocking layer contains an insulating material and an electrically conductive material.
US08592928B2	Magnetic random access memory and method of manufacturing the same According to one embodiment, a magnetic random access memory includes a selection element formed on a semiconductor substrate, an interlayer dielectric film formed above the selection element, a contact layer formed in the interlayer dielectric film, and electrically connected to the selection element, a lower electrode layer made of a metal material, and electrically connected to the contact layer, a metal oxide insulating film made of an oxide of the metal material, and surrounding a side surface of the lower electrode layer, a magnetoresistive element formed on the lower electrode layer, an upper electrode layer formed on the magnetoresistive element, a sidewall insulating film formed on a side surface of the magnetoresistive element and a side surface of the upper electrode layer, and a bit line electrically connected to the upper electrode layer.
US08592927B2	Multilayers having reduced perpendicular demagnetizing field using moment dilution for spintronic applications A magnetic element is disclosed that has a composite free layer with a FM1/moment diluting/FM2 configuration wherein FM1 and FM2 are magnetic layers made of one or more of Co, Fe, Ni, and B and the moment diluting layer is used to reduce the perpendicular demagnetizing field. As a result, lower resistance x area product and higher thermal stability are realized when perpendicular surface anisotropy dominates shape anisotropy to give a magnetization perpendicular to the planes of the FM1, FM2 layers. The moment diluting layer may be a non-magnetic metal like Ta or a CoFe alloy with a doped non-magnetic metal. A perpendicular Hk enhancing layer interfaces with the FM2 layer and may be an oxide to increase the perpendicular anisotropy field in the FM2 layer. The magnetic element may be part of a spintronic device or serve as a propagation medium in a domain wall motion device.
US08592919B2	Semiconductor device with source and drain fingers A semiconductor device includes source electrodes having source fingers, drain electrodes having drain fingers, and gate electrodes having bent portions between steps formed in stepwise side portions of source fingers and steps formed in stepwise side portions of drain fingers and being bent in the bent portions along the source fingers and the drain fingers. A shape of the stepwise side portion of one source finger and that of the stepwise portion of the corresponding drain finger are symmetrical about a midpoint of an imaginary line that connects the other end of the source finger and the other end of the corresponding drain finger.
US08592917B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a second semiconductor layer provided on a first semiconductor layer and including first pillars and second pillars. A first control electrode is provided in a trench of the second semiconductor layer and a second control electrode is provided on the second semiconductor layer and connected to the first control electrode. A first semiconductor region is provided on a surface of the second semiconductor layer except for a portion under the second control electrode. A second semiconductor region is provided on a surface of the first semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region being apart from the portion under the second control electrode and a third semiconductor region is provided on the first semiconductor region. A first major electrode is connected electrically to the first semiconductor layer and a second major electrode is connected electrically to the second and the third semiconductor region.
US08592916B2	Selectively raised source/drain transistor A lower raised source/drain region is formed on a planar source/drain region of a planar field effect transistor or a surface of a portion of semiconductor fin adjoining a channel region of a fin field effect transistor. At least one contact-level dielectric material layer is formed and planarized, and a contact via hole extending to the lower raised source/drain region is formed in the at least one contact-level dielectric material layer. An upper raised source/drain region is formed on a top surface of the lower raised source/drain region. A metal semiconductor alloy portion and a contact via structure are formed within the contact via hole. Formation of the upper raised source/drain region is limited to a bottom portion of the contact via hole, thereby preventing formation of, and increase of parasitic capacitance by, any additional raised structure in source/drain regions that are not contacted.

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